Guitar Glossary

A

Action

The height of the strings above the fretboard. A lower action is often easier to play, but too low can result in buzzing.

Arpeggio

A technique where the notes of a chord are played one at a time, rather than all at once.

B

Barre Chord

A chord where one finger is used to press down multiple strings across a single fret.

Backbeat

The emphasis on the second and fourth beats in a measure, commonly used in rock, pop, and funk music.

C

Capo

A device that clamps down on the guitar’s neck, raising the pitch of all strings, allowing guitarists to play in different keys without changing fingerings.

Chorus

A guitar effect that thickens the sound by creating a slight delay and modulation, making it sound like multiple instruments are playing at once.

D

Distortion

A guitar effect that alters the sound of the guitar, adding sustain and aggression by clipping the signal, often used in rock and metal music.

Drop D Tuning

A guitar tuning where the 6th string is lowered one whole step to D, allowing for easier power chords and a heavier sound.

E

Effect Pedal

A device used by guitarists to modify or enhance their sound, such as reverb, delay, overdrive, or wah.

Elliptical Sound

A sound produced by certain guitar effects, producing a sweep or change in tone as if it's moving from one point to another.

F

Fretboard

The surface of the guitar neck that holds the frets. Guitarists press the strings against the fretboard to change pitch.

Fretless

A guitar or bass without metal frets, allowing for smooth gliding across the neck and unique pitch manipulation.

G

Gain

The level of amplification in the signal, which controls how loud or distorted the sound is.

Groove

The rhythmic feel of a piece of music, often used to describe the tightness and flow of a band's rhythm section.

S

Sustain

The length of time a note or chord continues to sound after it is played. Sustain can be affected by the guitar, amp, and playing technique.

Slap Bass

A technique where the bassist slaps the string with their thumb and pops it with their fingers to create a percussive, sharp sound.

T

Tablature (Tab)

A form of musical notation that shows guitar players where to place their fingers on the fretboard rather than using standard musical notation.

Tuning Pegs

The metal tuning machines located at the headstock of the guitar, used to tighten or loosen the strings to tune the instrument.

W

Wah

An effect that filters the sound of the guitar in a way that creates a "wah" sound, often used in solos to add expression.

Whammy Bar

A lever attached to the guitar’s bridge that allows the player to lower or raise the pitch of the strings, often used for dramatic pitch bends.