Last update 5/11/2023

Our comprehensive glossary of musical terms tailored specifically for guitarists. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, this guide is designed to provide you with a complete understanding of essential musical concepts and techniques relevant to the world of guitar playing. From foundational theory to advanced playing techniques, we’ve compiled an A-to-Z list as a reference source for you.

Musical terms for guitarists

A

Arpeggio: A sequence of individual notes from a chord, played one after another rather than simultaneously.

Alternate Picking: A technique where the guitarist uses a consistent up-and-down pick motion to strike the strings in a regular rhythm.

Amplifier (Amp): A device used to increase the volume and shape the tone of an electric guitar.

B

Barre Chord: A chord formed by using one finger to press down multiple strings across the fretboard.

Bend: A technique in which a guitarist pushes or pulls a string to change the pitch while maintaining the note’s original fret position.

Bridge: The part of the guitar where the strings are anchored at the body, transmitting vibrations to the guitar’s body.

C

Chord: A combination of three or more notes played simultaneously, forming a harmonic unit.

Capo: A device placed on the neck of the guitar to raise the pitch of all the strings, enabling the player to use open chord shapes in different keys.

C Major Scale: A seven-note scale consisting of the intervals: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half.

D

Dynamics: The variation in loudness and intensity of a musical performance.

Drop Tuning: Lowering the pitch of one or more strings to achieve a heavier, deeper sound.

Downstroke: Strumming or picking the strings in a downward motion.

E

Economy Picking: A technique that combines alternate picking and sweeping, designed to minimize hand movement and increase speed.

Effects Pedal: A device used to modify the sound of a guitar using effects like reverb, delay, distortion, etc.

Endpin: A part on the bottom of an acoustic guitar used to attach a strap.

F

Fret A metal strip embedded in the guitar neck, dividing the strings into different pitches.

Fingerstyle: A technique where the guitarist uses their fingers to pluck the strings instead of a pick.

Fifth: An interval spanning five diatonic scale degrees.

G

Guitar Strap: A strap attaches to the guitar’s body, allowing the player to wear it over their shoulder.

Gigbag: A padded bag used for carrying and protecting the guitar.

Guitar Pick: A small, flat object used to strike the strings and create sound.

H

Hammer-On: A technique where a note is sounded by tapping a finger onto the fretboard without picking.

Harmonic: A bell-like sound created by lightly touching the string at a specific point while simultaneously picking it.

Headstock: The top section of the guitar’s neck, where the tuning pegs are located.

I

Intonation: The accuracy of the guitar’s pitch across the entire fretboard.

Inlay: Decorative designs or materials set into the fingerboard, often used as position markers.

Improvisation: Creating music on the spot, without prior planning or sheet music.

J

Jam Session: An informal musical gathering or a band where musicians play together without a predetermined arrangement.

Jazz Chords: Complex chords that often involve extended harmonies and alterations, commonly used in jazz music.

Jazz Guitar: A style of guitar playing characterized by improvisation and the use of jazz harmony.

K

Key: The main note or chord around which a piece of music revolves.

Knob: A control on the guitar or amplifier used to adjust various parameters, such as volume or tone.

Knotting Technique: A method of securing guitar strings to the bridge or tailpiece.

L

Lick: A short, distinctive musical phrase often used in improvisation.

Legato: A smooth and connected playing style where notes are played without any distinct breaks.

Loop Pedal: A device that records and plays back a music segment, allowing the guitarist to create layered arrangements.

M

Metronome: A device that provides a steady beat, helping guitarists maintain proper timing and rhythm.

Modal Scale: A scale with distinctive tonal characteristics used to create specific moods in music.

Mute: To dampen or silence the strings with the palm of the hand or another object.

N

Natural Harmonics: Harmonics are produced by lightly touching the string over specific frets while picking the string.

Neck: The long, thin part of the guitar that contains the fretboard and the tuning pegs.

Nylon Strings: Softer strings made of nylon or nylon-like materials, commonly used on classical and flamenco guitars.

O

Octave: An interval spanning eight diatonic scale degrees, often used for harmony and doubling melodies.

Overdrive: A type of distortion that produces a warm, smooth sound, commonly used in rock and blues.

Open Chord: A chord with one or more open strings, usually played near the guitar’s nut.

P

Palm Muting: A technique where the palm of the picking hand is placed lightly on the strings near the bridge to create a muted, percussive sound.

Phaser: An effect pedal that modulates the audio signal phase and creates a swirling, sweeping sound.

Plectrum: Another term for a guitar pick.

Q

Quadraphonic: A sound system that uses four speakers to create a more immersive audio experience.

Quick Change Capo: A capo that can be easily adjusted or moved on the fretboard without being completely removed.

Quarter Note: A basic rhythmic unit, typically receiving one beat in a musical piece.

R

Riff: A short, repeated musical phrase, often serving as the foundation of a song.

Rest Stroke: A fingerpicking technique where the finger plucks a string and comes to rest on the adjacent string.

Reverb: An effect that simulates the sound reflections of a room, adding depth and spaciousness to the sound.

S

Scale: A sequence of musical notes played in ascending or descending order, forming the basis of melodies and solos.

Slide: A technique where the guitarist uses a smooth object (a metal or glass slide) to glide along the strings, creating a unique sound.

Sustain The length of time a note sounds after being struck.

T

Tremolo: A rapid back-and-forth movement of a note’s pitch, often created using a tremolo bar on an electric guitar.

Tablature (Tabs): A form of notation that shows where to place fingers on the fretboard, indicating which strings and frets to play.

Tapping: A technique where the guitarist uses their fingers to tap the frets to produce notes, often used in virtuosic playing.

U

Unison: Two or more notes played simultaneously at the same pitch.

Upstroke: Strumming or picking the strings in an upward motion.

Ukulele: A small, four-stringed instrument related to the guitar, commonly used in folk and Hawaiian music.

V

Vibrato: A technique where the pitch of a note is modulated by rapidly and subtly bending and releasing the string.

Volume Pedal: A pedal used to control the volume

Resources

1. Music Theory Dictionary. Method-behind-the-music.com. https://method-behind-the-music.com/theory/dictionary/. Published 2017. Accessed June 2, 2020.