A list of terms used throughout the First Act website and other music terms
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
Acoustics
The study of sound, soundwaves, naturally produced sound, reverberation in space, harmonics, etc.
Alnico magnets
Hard strong alloys that make permanent magnets (pickups), which interact with vibrating strings to produce audio signals
Alto
The lower range of a female voice (or a classification of an instrument with a similar range), between soprano and tenor
Amplifier
An electronic device that takes an audio signal and increases it's power; an instrument amplifier consists of the amplifier and a speaker to express the signal
Arpeggio
The sounding of the tones of a chord in rapid succession rather than at once
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B
Baritone
A middle-range male voice (or a classification of an instrument with a similar range), between tenor and bass
Bass
The bass guitar, a rhythm instrument that traditionally has four strings
The lowest male voice, below baritone
The low end in the range of sound frequencies
Binding
An aesthetic design on the guitar, located on the edges/rims, often a line or set of lines, or other design
Body
The biggest structural component of the guitar, where resonance occurs and other structures/controls are located
Bridge
The part on a guitar which holds the strings aloft from the body, so that they have room to vibrate
A contrasting section within a structured song, which takes the listener away from the initial section only to bring them back to it later
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C
Chord
A set of two, three, or more notes played at once
Chorus
A structural component in a song which comes after a verse and is returned to repeatedly thereafter
Chromatic
Using or having to do with the chromatic scale - the scale comprised of all 12 tones of Western music in sequence.
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D
Distortion
A change in the waveform of a sound, which affects it's tonal quality; often purposely manifested as fuzz in guitar tone
Double Cutaway
A guitar with portions of the body cut away on both sides for easy high fret access
Dreadnought
A particular (and popular) shape/style of acoustic guitar with a very large body, flat top, and level shoulders
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E
Effects pedal
An electronic device, built into a small metal casing, which alters/augments the sound of an instrument, adding such effects as distortion, wah-wah, chorus, or reverb. Such pedals have large switches or buttons that can be controlled with the feet while the musician is playing.
Electronics
In reference to the guitar, electronics constitute the components of circuitry and electrical design within the instrument, including pickups, control switches and knobs, and wiring.
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F
F-hole
F-shaped holes in the top surface of a hollow or semi-hollow body guitar, which allow sound waves to escape and resonate. In more modern guitar designs, f-holes can take on different shapes.
Feedback
Occurs when a loop exists between an audio output and an audio input, creating a noise of rapidly increasing volume
Frequency response
The accuracy of sound reproduction by an audio system, according to a range of frequencies from the lowest sound detectable by the human hear to the highest.
Fretboard
The top surface of the guitar neck, often extending past it across the body, where notes and chords are fingered
Frets
Pieces of wire on the fretboard that create intervals and thus create notes
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G
Gain
The level of signal power or voltage in an electronic circuit; with musical equipment it basically translates to volume
Groove
A groove is a rhythmic flow in music that is built around a beat and the complication of that beat through repetition, reinterpretation, and syncopation. It is often used in a slang context, but also has technical connotations.
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H
Hardware
The structural components on a guitar such as the bridge, tailpiece, machine heads, knobs, pickup casings, etc.
Harmony
The interaction of multiple tones in music, according to theory, structure, patterns, or otherwise
Headstock
The structure at the top end of the neck where strings are anchored and tuning machines are located
Hollow-body
An electric guitar whose body is entirely hollow, which, through resonance, plays a part in the creation of tone
Humbucker
Electric guitar pickup using two coils, with increased output and reduced noise; known for darker, fatter tone
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I
Inlay
A design or set of decorative designs on a fretboard that also help with orientation while playing
Intonation
A player's realization of pitch accuracy, within oneself and across an ensemble; it can also refer to the interrelative pitch accuracy of an instrument
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J
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K
Key
In music, it is the tonal center of a particular song or piece. It can indicate a specific scale (ie. key of F# major) or an overall tonality (key of F#).
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L
Lick
A lick is a phrase, either formulaic or improvised, played by an individual musician. A lick may be played at the open or close of a song, or during a break.
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M
Machine Heads
Gears on the headstock that anchor the strings and allow them to be wound for tuning
Melody
A rhythmically organized sequence of single tones so related to one another as to make up a particular phrase or idea
“Mids”
The middle area in the range of sound frequencies
MIDI
"Musical Instrument Digital Interface"; an electronic communications protocol that allows electronic instruments to exchange digital data with a computer in real time
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N
Neck
The long, thin structure of the guitar which supports the strings and is the home of the fretboard
Neck profile
An element of design on a guitar having to do with the shape and thickness of the neck
Notes
Tones of definite pitch, with designated note names; in Western music theory, they are named A, A#/Bb, B, C, C#/Db, D, D#/Eb, E, F, F#/Gb, G, G#/Ab
Nut
The part on a guitar which lays between the fretboard and the headstock, and holds the strings aloft
Nylon-string
Also known as a classical guitar; acoustic guitar with nylon strings, which have less tension and a warmer, more subtle tone
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O
Output jack
The place on a guitar where a cable is inserted to carry the signal to an amplifier
Overdrive
The sound quality of an electric guitar amplifier when it is deliberately turned up past the point of signal clarity in order to achieve distortion
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P
Pickguard
A plate located on the body of the guitar, adjacent the strings, which protects the body from scratches and markings
Pickup
A transducer that captures the vibrations of a guitar string and converts them into a signal to be amplified
Pitch
The perceived frequency of a tone; when given a name, a pitch becomes a note.
Plectrum
A device for plucking or strumming a stringed instrument, like a guitar pick or banjo fingerpicks
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Q
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R
Reed
A thin strip of material which vibrates to create a sound in an instrument; metal reeds in harmonicas and accordions, wooden reeds in woodwind instruments
Resonance
The movement and expansion of soundwaves through space, assisted by sympathetic vibration, having to do with volume and tone
Rhythm
The pattern of musical movement through time, or a specific rhythm, ie. Waltz, samba, merengue, straight 4/4
Riff
A riff is a repeated phrase that forms the basis for a song, like the head in a jazz tune or the main line in a hard rock song. A riff usually has a set melody and rhythm, though some great riffs consist of just one note or chord repeated in a catchy rhythm.
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S
Scale
A sequential series of tones, increasing progressively in pitch, used to accompany harmony and create organization in music
Semi-hollow
An electric guitar whose body has some solid wood parts and some hollow areas
Single-coil
Electric guitar pickup with one copper coil wound around a magnet; more noise; known for brighter, snappier tone
Single Cutaway
A guitar with portions of the body cut away on one side (treble side) for easier high fret access
Soprano
The highest range of a female voice (or a classification of an instrument with a similar range)
Soundhole
On an acoustic guitar, the hole in the top of the body that allows sound waves to escape and resonate outside
Steel-string
The most typical kind of acoustic guitar, featuring metal strings (steel, nickel, bronze) that create higher tension and brighter tone
String gauge
The measured thickness of guitar strings, which come in varied sizes and are usually named by the diameter of the thinnest (E) string, ie. 9's, 10's, 11's, 13's
Sustain
A quality of sound which describes the duration of time which a tone remains sounding after it's initiated (plucked, picked, etc.) and its rate of decay
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T
Tailpiece
The part on a guitar which anchors the strings to the body
Tenor
The upper range of a male voice (or a classification of an insturment with a similar range), between alto and baritone
Tone
A sound or pitch, and it's sonic qualities/characteristics
Treble
The highest part in the range of frequencies of sound (pitches)
Tremolo
A regular, repetetive variation in volume during the duration of a tone, which creates a rapid, wave-like, warbling effect
A regular and rapid repetition of a single note, also known as a trill
Tuning
The act of setting the pitch for each string on an instrument, OR a set of standard pitches used (guitar standard tuning = EADGBE low to high)
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U
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V
Vibrato
A small, repetitive, up-and-down fluctuation in pitch centered on a set note, which creates a shakey, textured tone quality
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W
Wattage
The amount of electrical power (measured in watts) supplied to an electrical device
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X
XLR
A type of electrical connector most often used with microphones in a professional audio setup, known for its durability
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Y
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Z
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