Every music word used on this site, in plain words. In the lessons, words with a dotted underline show their meaning when you hover over or tap them.
accidental
A sharp (♯) or flat (♭) sign, or a note that needs one: the five notes between the natural notes, the black keys. Intro to Notes
augmented
A half step wider than major or perfect. An augmented 5th is 8 half steps; an augmented chord has one. Degrees and Intervals
bar
A group of beats (often four), marked off by bar lines on the staff. Also called a measure. Rhythm Basics
barre chord
A grip where the index finger lies flat across several strings, taking the place of the nut, so the shape can move anywhere on the neck. Chords on the Guitar
A picture of a grip: the strings with the high e on top, frets numbered below, and finger numbers (1 = index … 4 = little finger) on the notes to press. Chords on the Guitar
chord progression
A series of chords played one after another, the backbone of a song. Chord Progressions
chord symbol
The short name of a chord: a letter alone is major (C), m is minor (Cm), ° diminished (C°), + augmented (C+), 7 adds a 7th (C7). Triads
chromatic scale
All twelve notes in a row, each a half step above the last. Intro to Notes
circle of fifths
The twelve keys arranged a 5th apart. From C, each step clockwise adds a sharp, each step anticlockwise a flat. Circle of Fifths
clef
The sign at the start of a staff that tells you which letter sits on which line: the treble clef (𝄞) for higher notes, the bass clef (𝄢) for lower ones. Reading Music
degree
A note's number in a scale, counted from the root: the 1st, 2nd, 3rd … Degrees and Intervals
diminished
A half step narrower than minor or perfect. A diminished 5th is 6 half steps; a diminished chord has one. Degrees and Intervals
distortion
The gritty, loud sound of a rock guitar amp, made by overdriving the signal. Power Chords
dominant seventh
A major triad with a minor 7th, written 7 (G7). It belongs on the 5th degree of a key and pulls strongly back home. Seventh Chords
double sharp (𝄪) / double flat (𝄫)
Raises or lowers a note by two half steps: F𝄪 sounds like G, B𝄫 like A. Intro to Notes
enharmonic
Two names for the same sound, like F♯ and G♭, or B and C♭. Intro to Notes
equal temperament
Tuning all twelve half steps to exactly the same size, so every key sounds equally in tune. Why Twelve Notes?
flat (♭)
Lowers a note by a half step: B♭ is a half step below B. Intro to Notes
frequency
How many times per second something vibrates, measured in hertz (Hz). It sets the pitch. Intro to Notes
fret
A metal strip across the guitar neck. Pressing a string behind a fret raises it by a half step per fret. Notes on Instruments
grip (chord shape)
How your fretting hand holds a chord on the guitar neck: which fingers press which strings at which frets. Chords on the Guitar
half step
The smallest step between two neighbouring notes: one piano key or one guitar fret. Also called a semitone. Written H. Intro to Notes
interval
The distance between two notes, named by how many letters it spans (a 3rd, a 5th) and its exact size in half steps. Why Twelve Notes?
inversion
A chord played with a note other than its root at the bottom: the 3rd (1st inversion) or the 5th (2nd inversion). Inversions
key
A home note plus the scale built on it. In G major, G is home and the notes come from the G major scale. Key Signatures
key signature
The sharps or flats at the start of each line of music: the key's sharps or flats, written once instead of before every note. Key Signatures
ledger line
A short extra line for a note just above or below the staff. Reading Music
major / minor interval
Two sizes of the same interval: a minor 3rd is 3 half steps, a major 3rd 4. Seconds, thirds, sixths and sevenths come in both sizes. Degrees and Intervals
major scale
The seven-note scale with the steps W W H W W W H. It sounds bright. Intro to Scales
middle C
C4, the C near the middle of the piano, between the treble and bass staves. Reading Music
minor scale
The seven-note scale with the steps W H W W H W W (the natural minor). It sounds darker than major. Minor Scales
mode
A major scale started on one of its other notes, which makes a new home note and a new mood (Dorian, Mixolydian …). Modes
modulation
Moving from one key to another during a piece of music. Relative Keys
natural note
One of the seven notes named by a plain letter, A to G: the white keys of a piano. Intro to Notes
note
A single musical sound with a definite pitch, named by a letter from A to G. Intro to Notes
note value
How long a note lasts: whole, half, quarter, eighth or sixteenth, each half as long as the one before. Rhythm Basics
nut
The small strip at the top end of the guitar neck where the open strings stop, like fret 0. Chords on the Guitar
octave
The distance from a note to the next note with the same name: double the frequency. It sounds the same, only higher. Intro to Notes
octave number
The number after a note name, such as A4 or C3. It counts octaves from the bottom of the piano and goes up at every C. C4 is middle C. Notes on Instruments
open chord
A grip near the nut that lets some strings ring open, like E, A, D, G and C. Chords on the Guitar