A comprehensive music glossary
Welcome to our Comprehensive Music Glossary! Whether you're starting your musical journey or looking to deepen your understanding of complex musical concepts, you've come to the right place. Our glossary is designed to provide you with clear, concise, and easy-to-understand definitions of a wide range of musical terms, from the very basic to the more advanced.
A
Adagio: A slow tempo, often for expressive parts of music.
Allegro: A fast, lively tempo.
Alternate picking: Technique of playing guitar strings by alternating downward and upward picks.
Andante: A walking pace tempo, moderate speed.
Arpeggio: Playing the notes of a chord in succession, not simultaneously.
Audio interface: Hardware for connecting musical instruments and microphones to a computer.
Accent: Emphasis placed on a particular note or chord.
Atonal: Music that lacks a clear tonal center or key.
Attack: The beginning part of a sound or note.
Auxiliary input (Aux): An additional input for sound sources, often used in audio equipment.
B
Barre chord: A guitar chord where one finger presses multiple strings.
BPM: Beats per minute, measuring the tempo of music.
Bridge - guitar: The part of the guitar that supports the strings' tension.
Bridge - song: A contrasting section that prepares for the return of the original material.
Bus - recording: A system in audio mixing that combines tracks into one channel.
Bass: The lowest range of musical tones.
Beat: The basic unit of time in music.
Bel canto: A style of singing that emphasizes beautiful tone and technique.
Blend: To mix different sounds or voices together smoothly.
Break: A short solo or instrumental section in a song.
C
Capo: A device clamped on the guitar fretboard to raise the pitch.
Comping: Accompanying a soloist in jazz with chords or rhythms.
Compression: Reducing the dynamic range of audio signals.
Condenser mic: A microphone that captures sound with a capacitor.
Cry Baby: A type of wah-wah pedal for guitar.
Chord: A group of notes played simultaneously.
Chorus: An effect adding duplicates of a sound slightly delayed.
Clave: A rhythm pattern fundamental to many Afro-Cuban music genres.
Clef: A symbol at the beginning of a staff determining the pitch of notes.
Coda: A concluding passage of a piece of music.
D
DAW: Digital Audio Workstation, software for recording, editing, and producing audio.
Decrescendo: Gradually getting softer in volume.
Delay: An effect creating echoes of a sound.
Dial In a Tone: Adjusting equipment to achieve a specific sound.
Distortion: An effect that adds grit or fuzziness to sound.
Dynamic microphones: Mics that convert sound into electrical signals using electromagnetism.
Diminuendo: Similar to decrescendo, gradually decreasing in loudness.
Dissonance: A harsh, unresolved sound created by certain note combinations.
Dolce: Playing in a sweet, soft manner.
Dominant: The fifth scale degree, often leading to the tonic note in harmony.
E
EQ: Equalization, adjusting the balance of frequency components in sound.
Enharmonic: Different names for the same pitch, like C# and Db.
Ensemble: A group of musicians performing together.
Eighth note: A note with one-eighth the duration of a whole note.
Expression: Conveying emotion or character through musical performance.
Encore: An additional performance at the end of a concert by audience request.
Elegy: A musical composition expressing sorrow or lamentation.
Electroacoustic: Music that involves electronic and acoustic sounds.
Embouchure: The way a musician applies the mouth to the mouthpiece of a wind or brass instrument.
Euphony: A pleasing, harmonious sound.
F
Forte: Loud volume in music.
Fortissimo: Very loud volume.
Fretboard: The part of a stringed instrument where the fingers press down on strings.
Frets: Metal strips on the fretboard that divide it into notes.
Fuzz: An effect that creates a distorted, fuzzy sound.
Falsetto: A method of voice production used by male singers to sing notes higher than their normal range.
Fermata: A symbol indicating a note or rest should be held longer than its value.
Flanger: An effect creating a swirling or swooshing sound.
Flat: A symbol indicating a note should be played a semitone lower.
Fugue: A composition where a theme is introduced by one part and successively taken up by others.
G
Gain Staging: The process of managing audio levels through the signal path.
Glissando: A glide from one pitch to another.
Groove: A rhythmic feel or pattern in music.
Ghost note: A note played with a lighter touch, often barely audible.
Grandioso: Played in a grand, noble style.
Gig: A live performance by musicians.
Guitar pick: A small tool used to pluck or strum a stringed instrument.
Glockenspiel: A percussion instrument with tuned metal bars.
Grave: A slow, solemn tempo.
Ground bass: A repeating bass line in a piece of music.
H
Headroom: The difference between the normal operating level and the maximum level a system can handle without distortion.
Harmony: The combination of different musical notes played or sung simultaneously.
Harmonics: Overtones that are whole number multiples of a fundamental tone.
Half step: The smallest interval in Western music; the difference between two adjacent piano keys.
Hemiola: A rhythmic pattern of two beats in the time of three, or vice versa.
Hook: A catchy musical phrase or riff.
Homophony: Music with one clear melodic line, with other parts providing accompaniment.
Harp: A stringed instrument played by plucking with fingers.
Hertz (Hz): A unit of frequency, one cycle per second.
Hi-hat: A pair of cymbals mounted on a stand, played with a foot pedal.
I
Interval: The distance between two pitches.
Impromptu: A short piece of music, often improvised.
Improvisation: Creating music spontaneously without preparation.
Inversion: A chord whose notes are rearranged so that its root is not the lowest note.
Ionian mode: Another term for the major scale.
Intonation: The accuracy of pitch in playing or singing.
Interlude: A short piece of instrumental music played between sections of a larger work.
Instrumentation: The choice of musical instruments used in a composition.
Insistent: Repeatedly stressing or demanding attention, musically.
Impressionism: A music style that focuses on mood and atmosphere rather than structured form.
J
Jazz: A genre of music characterized by swing and blue notes, complex chords, and improvisation.
Jump: In music, a sudden increase in volume or intensity.
Jingle: A short, catchy piece of music used in advertising.
Jubilant: Music that expresses joy or triumph.
Jig: A lively dance or the music for such a dance, often in compound time.
Jam: An informal gathering of musicians to play improvised or unrehearsed music.
Jazz hands: A performance gesture used to show enthusiasm, typically in musical theatre.
Jeopardy: A musical technique used to convey tension or uncertainty.
Juxtaposition: Placing two or more musical ideas side by side for contrast.
Jazz fusion: A genre that combines jazz harmony and improvisation with rock, funk, and R&B rhythms.
K
Key: The group of notes that forms the basis of a music piece.
Kern: A musical notation representing a note in early music.
Koto: A traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument.
Kick drum: The large drum that produces a low, booming sound in a drum set.
Key signature: Symbols at the beginning of a staff indicating the key of the music.
Klezmer: A musical tradition of the Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern Europe.
Knob: A control on an instrument or equipment for adjusting volume, tone, or other features.
Kettle drum: Another name for a timpani, a type of drum.
Kithara: An ancient Greek musical instrument, a type of lyre.
Klangfarbenmelodie: A technique that involves splitting a musical line or melody between several instruments.
L
Layering: The technique of stacking multiple sounds for a fuller effect.
Legato: Playing notes smoothly and connectedly.
Largo: A slow and dignified tempo.
Lyric: The words of a song.
Lick: A short phrase or sequence used in solos and melodic lines.
Loop: A repeating section of sound material.
Lead: The main melody or vocal part of a song.
Libretto: The text of an opera or other long vocal work.
Ligature: A device used to attach a reed to the mouthpiece of a woodwind instrument.
Luthier: A craftsman who makes or repairs stringed instruments.
M
Mezzo piano: Moderately soft volume.
Moderato: A moderate tempo.
Metronome: A device used to mark time at a selected rate by giving a regular tick.
Melody: A sequence of notes that is musically satisfying.
Measure: A segment of time defined by a given number of beats.
Modulation: Changing from one key to another within a piece.
Minor: A scale or chord having a sad or melancholic sound.
Mix: The process of combining multiple audio tracks into one.
Motif: A short musical idea or theme.
Mute: A device used to soften or alter the sound of an instrument.
N
Neve board: A high-quality mixing console known for its warm sound.
Natural: A musical symbol canceling a previous sharp or flat.
Notation: The system of writing music so that specific pitches and rhythms can be communicated.
Note: A single tone of definite pitch.
Nylon strings: Strings made of nylon, used on classical guitars for a softer sound.
Nocturne: A musical composition that is inspired by, or evocative of, the night.
Noise gate: An electronic device or software that reduces background noise.
Nonet: A composition written for nine instruments or voices.
Neoclassicism: A 20th-century music movement drawing on classical forms and styles.
Nut: The small strip on a guitar or other stringed instrument that supports the strings at the headstock.
O
Octave: The interval between one musical pitch and another with double its frequency.
Omnidirectional: A microphone that picks up sound equally from all directions.
Overdrive: An effect used to simulate the sound of an overdriven guitar amplifier.
Orchestra: A large group of musicians playing together on various instruments.
Ostinato: A repeated musical phrase or rhythm.
Opus: A term used to denote a work of music in the order of its publication.
Oratorio: A large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists.
Organ: A keyboard instrument of one or more pipe divisions or other means for producing tones.
Overture: An introductory music piece to an opera, ballet, or suite.
Octet: A musical composition for eight performers.
P
Palm mute: A guitar technique where the palm of the hand dampens the strings near the bridge.
Parlour guitar: A small-body guitar suitable for intimate venues.
Pedal amp: An amplifier designed specifically for use with musical instrument pedals.
Pentatonic scale: A musical scale with five notes per octave, common in many world music traditions.
Pianissimo: Very soft volume.
Pick up - guitar: A device on a guitar that converts string vibrations into electrical signals.
Plectrum: Another term for a guitar pick.
Polarity: The orientation of electrical connections, important in sound reproduction for phase accuracy.
Pre amp: A device that amplifies weak signals before further processing.
Pitch: The quality of a sound governed by the rate of vibrations producing it; the highness or lowness of a tone.
Q
Quartet: A musical composition for four performers or voices.
Quintet: A composition for five instruments or voices.
Quarter note: A note with one-fourth the duration of a whole note.
Quaver: Another term for an eighth note, used in British English.
Quintuplet: A group of five notes played in the time usually given to four.
Quodlibet: A piece of music combining several different melodies in counterpoint.
Quasi: A term meaning "as if" or "almost," used to describe a piece that imitates another style.
Quiescent: Very quiet or silent, used to describe musical passages.
Quintal harmony: Harmony based on the interval of a fifth.
Quodlibet: A piece combining several different melodies, often popular tunes, in counterpoint.
R
Reverb: An effect that simulates the sound of a space, like a hall or room.
Ribbon mic: A microphone that uses a thin metal ribbon to capture sound.
Rhythm: The pattern of sounds and silences in music.
Riff: A repeated phrase in music, especially popular in rock and jazz.
Root: The fundamental note of a chord.
Round: A musical composition in which two or more voices sing the same melody, starting at different times.
Rubato: The flexible adjustment of tempo for expressive purposes.
Range: The span from the lowest to the highest note that a voice or instrument can produce.
Resonance: The quality of a sound that stays loud, clear, and deep for a long time.
Rondo: A musical form with a recurring leading theme, often found in the final movement of a sonata or concerto.
S
Scale: A sequence of musical notes in ascending or descending order.
Sibilance: A hissing sound produced by the pronunciation of the consonant 's'.
Slide: A technique where a note glides from one pitch to another.
Stomp box: A small, pedal-operated device that produces a sound effect for a musical instrument.
Sustain: to hold or prolong a note's sound, maintaining its volume and clarity for a desired duration. Find out more
T
Tablature: A form of musical notation indicating instrument fingering rather than musical pitches.
Tacet: An instruction for an instrument or voice to remain silent during a piece or a section.
Tambourine: A percussion instrument consisting of a small frame with metal jingles.
Tango: A Latin American dance characterized by its rhythmic precision and the intimacy of its execution.
Tenor: A male singing voice with a range higher than a bass but lower than an alto.
Tetrachord: A series of four notes having a specific pattern of whole and half steps.
Timbre: The character or quality of a musical sound or voice as distinct from its pitch and intensity.
Time signature: A notation indicating how many beats are in each measure and what kind of note gets one beat.
Tonic: The first note of a scale, serving as the home base around which the music revolves.
Triad: A chord consisting of three notes, typically built with two intervals of a third.
Tempo: The speed at which a piece of music is played.
Tremolo: A trembling effect produced by a rapid repetition of a single note or chord.
U
Unison: Two or more musical parts sounding the same pitch or at an octave interval, often at the same time.
Upbeat: The last beat in a measure, a weak beat, which anticipates the downbeat, the strong beat of the next measure.
Ukulele: A small, four-stringed instrument of Hawaiian origin.
Uptempo: Music with a fast tempo.
Undertone: A tone that is lower in pitch than a given tone.
Unison: Playing or singing the same notes by all musicians or singers at the same pitch or in octaves.
Upstroke: A stroke in playing a stringed instrument made by moving the hand or plectrum up towards the player.
Utility: In music production, refers to tools or plugins that serve specific functions such as tuning, metering, or phase alignment.
Uilleann pipes: A traditional Irish bagpipe known for its sweet tone and wide range of notes.
Unmeasured: A passage of music without a strict tempo, allowing for freedom in performance.
V
Verse: A section of a song with repeating music and changing lyrics.
Virtuoso: A highly skilled musician or performer.
Vivace: A direction in music indicating the piece should be played in a lively and brisk manner.
Volti subito (V.S.): A musical direction meaning "turn quickly", indicating the performer should quickly turn the page.
Vamp: A repeated musical figure or accompaniment used in jazz and popular music.
Valve: A device in brass instruments that changes the pitch by altering the length of the air column.
Variation: A technique where material is repeated in an altered form.
Vibrato: A technique involving a slight and rapid variation in pitch, used to enhance the expressiveness of music.
Viola: A string instrument larger than a violin with a deeper sound.
Voice leading: The manner in which individual melodic lines or voices move from one note to the next.
W
Whole note: A note with a duration of four beats in common time.
Whole tone scale: A scale consisting entirely of intervals of a whole tone, with no semitones.
Woodwind: A family of musical instruments that produce sound when the player blows air against an edge or through a reed, causing the air within its resonator to vibrate.
Waltz: A dance in triple time with a strong accent on the first beat and a basic pattern of step-step-close.
Wrap: In recording, to conclude or finish a session.
Warm-up: Exercises performed by musicians before a performance to prepare their muscles and improve their tone.
Wind chimes: A percussion instrument consisting of small metal tubes or rods that sound when moved by the wind.
Workshop: A collaborative meeting of musicians for the purpose of improvisation, composition, or simply developing new skills and techniques.
Whole rest: A rest symbol indicating silence for the duration of a whole measure in common time.
Woofer: A speaker designed to produce low-frequency sounds, commonly used in audio systems for music playback.
X
Xylophone: A musical instrument with wooden bars of different lengths, played by striking with mallets.
Xerophony: The use of digital or electronic means to mimic or alter acoustic sounds in music production.
Xenharmony: Music that uses intervals, scales, or tunings that are unconventional in Western music traditions.
Xalam: A traditional stringed musical instrument from West Africa, similar to a lute.
Xylorimba: A percussion instrument combining the range of the xylophone and the marimba.
Xenakis, Iannis: Referring to techniques or compositions inspired by the avant-garde composer Iannis Xenakis, known for his mathematical approach to music.
Xeroradiography: Although primarily a medical imaging technique, in a musical context, it could metaphorically describe the analysis or visualization of sound waves.
Xylotom: An imaginary or rarefied instrument suggested for the sake of completeness, simulating percussive wooden tones.
Xenophony: The exploration or incorporation of foreign sounds or musical elements into compositions.
Xyston: Historically, a type of spear; metaphorically in music, it could describe a piercing, sharp sound or technique.
Y
Yodel: A form of singing that involves rapid and repeated changes of pitch between the low-pitch chest register and the high-pitch head register.
Yamaha: A brand known for manufacturing musical instruments, including pianos, guitars, and electronic keyboards.
Yearning: In musical expression, conveying a deep longing or desire, often through melodious, emotive passages.
Yield: In music dynamics, to soften or reduce one's intensity, allowing another part or instrument to come to the foreground.
Yantra: While traditionally a symbolic diagram in Hindu tantra, in a musical context, it could metaphorically describe complex rhythmic patterns or structures.
Yaylı tambur: A traditional Turkish stringed instrument played with a bow.
Young: Referring to youthful or fresh sounds in music, often characterized by energy and innovation.
Yarn mallets: Mallets used to play percussion instruments, such as marimbas and vibraphones, with heads wrapped in yarn for a softer impact.
Yoruba music: Music originating from the Yoruba people, featuring complex rhythms and often spiritual or social themes.
Yield: To adjust musical volume or intensity to blend with other musicians in ensemble settings.
Z
Zither: A musical instrument consisting of strings stretched over a flat body, played by strumming or plucking.
Zydeco: A music genre that emerged in Louisiana, combining Cajun music, blues, and rhythm and blues.
Zarzuela: A Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, incorporating operatic and popular song, as well as dance.
Zealous: In music performance, showing great energy or enthusiasm.
Zampoña: A traditional Andean panpipe, known for its distinctive layered sound.
Zarabanda: A slow, sensual dance that originated in Latin America, related to the sarabande.
Zing: A term used to describe music or sound that has vitality or a lively, animated quality.
Zephyr: In music, a light, gentle piece that evokes the softness of a gentle breeze.
Zoomorphic: While typically referring to animal shapes, in music, it might describe compositions or performances that mimic animal sounds.
Zouk: A fast tempo music style originating from the Caribbean islands, characterized by a rhythmic and electronic sound.
#
440 Hz: The standard pitch reference frequency for tuning musical instruments, corresponding to the note A above middle C.
8va: An abbreviation for "ottava," indicating that a passage should be played an octave higher than written.
12-bar blues: A chord progression that forms the basis of many blues songs.
32nd note: A note that lasts 1/32 of the duration of a whole note.
16th note: A note that lasts 1/16 of the duration of a whole note.
64th note: A note that lasts 1/64 of the duration of a whole note.
2/4 time: A time signature indicating two quarter-note beats per measure.
4/4 time: The most common time signature, indicating four quarter-note beats per