Glossary

Action

This refers to the height of the strings away from the frets and fretboard. A low action means the strings are quite close to the frets and fretboard, with a high action meaning that the strings are quite a distance away.

Chord

A guitar chord is a set of notes on a guitar, which together make up a chord. The notes in a chord can either be played simultaneously, when strummed with a plectrum, or one at a time, using a plectrum or fingers.

Crescendo

A symbol found in music notation, which indicates a gradual increase in volume of a note or passage of notes.

Crochet (or Quarter Note)

A musical note having one quarter of the value of a semibreve (or whole note). In the case of 4/4 timing this would be 1 beat.

Decrescendo (or Diminuendo)

A symbol found in music notation, which indicates a gradual decrease in volume of a note or passage of notes.

Dotted Minim (or Dotted Half Note)

A musical note that lasts for 3 beats (in 4/4 timing). The dot increases the value of the note by half of its original value.

Forte

A symbol found in music notation, which indicates that a section of music should be played loudly.

Fortissimo

A symbol found in music notation, which indicates that a section of music should be played very loud, louder than Forte.

Fortississimo

A symbol found in music notation, which indicates that a section of music should be played very very loudly, louder than Fortissimo.

Mezzo Forte

A symbol found in music notation, which indicates that a section of music should be played half as loud as Forte.

Mezzo Piano

A symbol found in music notation, which indicates that a section of music should be played half as soft as Piano.

Minim (or Half Note)

A musical note that is half the value of a semibreve (or whole note). In 4/4 timing this would be 2 beats.

Pianissimo

A symbol found in music notation, which indicates that a section of music should be played very softly, quieter than piano.

Pianississimo

A symbol found in music notation, which indicates that a section of music should be played very very softly, quieter than pianissimo.

Piano

As well as being a musical instrument, this also refers to a symbol found in music notation, which indicates that a section of music should be played softly.

Quaver (or Eighth Note)

A musical note worth one eighth the value of a semibreve (or whole note). In 4/4 timing this would be half a beat.

Semibreve (or Whole Note)

A musical note equivalent to four beats, where each beat lasts a quarter note (the most common timing), or three beats in 3/4 timing, and so on.

Standard Tuning

Standard tuning is where the strings of a guitar are tuned to the most popular notes or string pitches, namely E, A, D, G, B and E, from the sixth or top string down to the first or bottom string.

Tablature (or Tab)

A method of writing music for a fretted instrument, such as a guitar, whereby numbers appear on lines, which represent the strings, indicating the fret to be played.

Tonewood

The wood within a guitar’s construction that contributes to its tone.