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musical glossary

Body

The main part of the guitar, where the strings emerge and the pickups and electronic control knobs are located

Bridge

The part of the guitar where the strings emerge from the body

Delay

A staple type of spatial effect. Repeats the incoming signal at user-defined time intervals

Dominant

Indicates either the 5th in a scale, chords V and VII in a key or a flattened 7th in the context of a dominant 7th chord

Dorian

The 2nd mode in the major scale. Often used in Blues and Jazz.

Flat

Indicates a decrease in pitch by one semitone
eg. B flattened = B

♭

Fingerboard Fretboard

The flat, fretted board attached to the front of the neck.
The part of the guitar your left hand plays (if right handed).
Usually made of maple, rosewood or ebony.

Frets

The metal wires set into the fingerboard of the guitar. Each fret changes the pitch by one semitone

Gain

The incoming (input) level of a signal

Headstock

The head of the guitar, where the tuning pegs are located and the strings end

Major

A fundamental type of scale and key. Standard in Western music.

Minor

The 6th mode of the Major scale. Widely used in all Western music.

Modes

Derived from scales. Usually by playing the notes of a major scale but starting on other scale degrees than the root.

Neck

The long, thin part of the guitar. Where the fretboard is located.

Reverb

A staple type of spatial effect. Often associated with an echo effect. Typically used to create a sense of space, distance and depth.

Modulation

In context of effects, any effect which changes over time.
eg. Chorus, Phaser, Tremolo etc
In context of musical analysis, modulation refers to moving between keys and tonal centers

Overdrive

A type of clipping effect achieved by boosting gain against a fixed threshold

Semitone

The smallest divisible unit of pitch in Western music. From one musical note to the next.
eg. C to C or E to F

#

Sharp

Indicates an increase in pitch by one semitone
eg. C sharpened = C

#

Tone

#

Equivalent to two semitones.
eg. C to D or E to F
Popular synonym for timbre

Tremolo

A modulation effect which repeatedly and rhythmically cuts the signal in and out at user-defined degrees of depth and speed

Vibrato

A modulation effect which oscillates up and down in pitch quickly. Often used as a highly effective means of emotional expression for singers or soloists

Volume

The outgoing (output) level of a signal

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