"a" — annular finger (ring finger). As used for identifying the right hand fingers in fingerpicking patterns.
Accent — a sign, >, used to indicate a predominant beat.
Accidental — a sign used to show a temporary change in pitch of a note (i.e., sharp #, flat b, double sharp !, double flat bb, or natural @). The sharps or flats in a key signature are not regarded as accidentals.
Additional notes — a note not belonging to a given scale, but can be used for improvising against most chords in a progression without sounding out of key.
Ad lib — to be played at the performer’s own discretion.
Allegretto — moderately fast.
Allegro — fast and lively.
Anacrusis — a note or notes occurring before the first bar of music (also called "lead-in" notes).
Andante — an easy walking pace.
Arpeggio — the playing of a chord in single note fashion.
Bar — a division of music occurring between two bar lines (also called a "measure").
Bar chord — a chord played with one finger lying across all six strings.
Bar line — a vertical line drawn across the staff which divides the music into equal sections called bars.
Bass — the lower regions of pitch in general. On keyboard, the notes to the left of the keyboard.
Bend — a technique which involves pushing a string upwards (or downwards), which raises the pitch of the fretted note being played.
"Blues" Scale — consisting of the I ,bIII , IV , bV , V , bVII and notes relative to the major scale.
Capo — a device placed across the neck of a guitar to allow a key change without alteration of the chord shapes.
Chord — a combination of three or more different notes played together.
Chord progression — a series of chords played as a musical unit (e.g., as in a song).
Chromatic scale — a scale ascending and descending in semitones.
Clef — a sign placed at the beginning of each staff of music which fixes the location of a particular note on the staff, and hence the location of all other notes, e.g.:
Cliches — small musical phrases that are frequently used.
Coda — an ending section of music, represented by the sign v
Common time — and indication of * time — four quarter note beats per bar (also indicated by Q)
Compound time — occurs when the beat falls on a dotted note, which is thus divisible by 3, e.g., ) _ +
D.C. al fine — a repeat from the beginning to the word "fine".
Dot — a sign placed after a note indicating that its time value is extended by a half, e.g.:
1 = 2 counts 2= 3 counts
Double bar line — two vertical lines close together, indicating the end of a piece, or section thereof.
Double flat — a sign (bb) which lowers the pitch of a note by one tone.
Double sharp — a sign !) which raises the pitch of a note by one tone.
D.S. al fine — a repeat from the sign (indicated thus V) to the word "fine".
Duration — the time value of each note.
Dynamics — the varying degrees of softness (indicated by the term "piano") and loudness (indicated by the term "forte") in music.
Eighth note — a note with the value of half a beat in * time, indicated thus 5 (also called a quaver).
The eighth note rest — indicating half a beat of silence is written: j
Enharmonic — describes the difference in notation and name, but not in pitch, of two notes, e.g.:
Fermata — a sign, ? , used to indicate that a note or chord is held to the player’s own discretion (also called a "pause sign").
Fill ins — a short lead riff played between one line of a lyric and the next, or between one verse and the next.
First and second endings — signs used where two different endings occur. On the first time through ending one is played (indicated by the bracket Z); then the progression is repeated and ending two is played (indicated X).
Flat — a sign, (b) used to lower the pitch of a note by one semitone.
Form — the plan or layout of a song, in relation to the sections it contains, e.g., Binary form containing an "A" section and a "B" section (A B). Ternary form, containing an "A" section and a "B" section, and then a repeat of the "A" section (A B A). The verse/chorus relationship in songs is an example of form.
Forte — loud. Indicated by the sign f
Half note — a note with the value of two beats in * time, indicated thus: 1 (also called a minim).The half note rest, indicating two beats of silence, is written:f on the third staff line.
Harmonics — a chime-like sound created by lightly touching a vibrating string at certain points along the fretboard.
Harmony — the simultaneous sounding of two or more different notes.
Improvise — to perform spontaneously, i.e., not from memory or from a written copy.
Interval — the distance between any two notes of different pitches.
Key — describes the notes used in a composition in regards to the major or minor scale from which they are taken, e.g., a piece "in the key of C major" describes the melody, chords, etc., as predominantly consisting of the notes, C, D, E, F, G, A, and B — i.e., from the C scale.
Key signature — a sign, placed at the beginning of each stave of music, directly after the clef, to indicate the key of a piece. The sign consists of a certain number of sharps or flats, which represent the sharps or flats found in the scale of the piece’s key, e.g.:
indicates a scale with F# and C#, which is D major; D E F# G A B C# D. Therefore the key is D major (or its relative minor, B minor).
Lead-In — same as anacrusis (also called a pick-up).
Ledger lines — small horizontal lines upon which notes are written when their pitch is either above or below the range of the staff, e.g.:
Legato — smoothly, well connected.
Lyric — words that accompany a melody.
"m" — middle finger. As used for identifying the right hand fingers in fingerpicking patterns.
Major scale — a series of eight notes in alphabetical order based on the interval sequence T, T, T½, T, T½ .
Major scale — a series of eight notes in alphabetical order based on the interval sequence tone - tone - semitone - tone - tone - tone - semitone, giving the familiar sound do re mi fa so la ti do.
Melody — a succession of notes of varying pitch and duration, and having a recognizable musical shape.
Metronome — a device which indicates the number of beats per minute, and which can be adjusted in accordance to the desired tempo.
E.g., MM (Maelzel Metronome) 3 = 60 — indicates 60 quarter note beats per minute.
Minor Pentatonic Scale — a 5 tone scale based on the interval sequence.
Mode — a displaced scale, e.g., playing through the C to C scale, but starting and finishing on the D note.
Moderato — at a moderate pace.
Modulation — the changing of key within a song (or chord progression).
Natural — a sign (@) used to cancel out the effect of a sharp or flat. The word is also used to describe the notes A, B, C, D, E, F and G, e.g., "the natural notes".
Notation — the written representation of music, by means of symbols (music on a staff), letters (as in chord and note names) and diagrams (as in chord illustrations.)
Note — a single sound with a given pitch and duration.
Octave — the distance between any given note with a set frequency, and another note with exactly double that frequency. Both notes will have the same letter name.
Open chord — a chord that contains at least one open string, and is played in open position.
"p" — primary finger (thumb). As used for identifying the right hand fingers in fingerpicking patterns.
Passing note — connects two melody notes which are a third or less apart. A passing note usually occurs on an unaccented beat of the bar.
Phrase — a small group of notes forming a recognizable unit within a melody.
Pitch — the sound produced by a note, determined by the frequency of the string vibrations. The pitch relates to a note being referred to as "high" or "low".
Pivot finger — a finger which remains in position while the other fingers move, when changing chords.
Plectrum — a small object (often of a triangular shape) made of plastic which is used to pick or strum the strings of a guitar.
Position — a term used to describe the location of the left hand on the fret board. The left hand position is determined by the fret location of the first finger, e.g., the 1st position refers to the 1st to 4th frets. The 3rd position refers to the 3rd to 6th frets and so on.
Quarter note — a note with the value of one beat in * time, indicated thus 3 (also called a crotchet). The quarter note rest, indicating one beat of silence, is written: h
Reggae — a Jamaican rhythm featuring an accent on the second and fourth beats (in * time).
Relative — a term used to describe the relationship between a major and minor key which share the same key signature, e.g., G major and E minor are relative keys both sharing the F# key signature.
Repeat signs — in music, used to indicate a repeat of a section of music, by means of two dots placed before a double bar line:
In chord progressions, a repeat sign C, indicates an exact repeat of the previous bar.
Rest — the notation of an absence of sound in music.
Rest stroke — where the finger, after picking the string, comes to rest on the next string (for accenting the note).
Rhythm — the aspect of music concerned with tempo, duration and accents of notes (or chord strums). Tempo indicates the speed of a piece (fast or slow) duration indicates the time value of each note or strum (quarter note, eighth note, sixteenth note, etc.); and accents indicate which beat is more predominant (in rock, the first and third beats; in reggae, the second and fourth beats).
Riff — a pattern of notes that is repeated throughout a progression (song).
Root note — the note after which a chord or scale is named.
Scale Tone Chords — chords which are constructed from notes within a given scale.
Semitone — the smallest interval used in conventional music. On guitar, it is a distance of one fret.
Sharp — a sign (#) used to raise the pitch of a note by one semitone.
Simple time — occurs when the beat falls on an undotted note, which is thus divisible by two.
Sixteenth note — a note with the value of a quarter of a beat in * time, indicated as such 0 (also called a semiquaver).
The sixteenth note rest, indicating a quarter of a beat of silence, is written: k
Slide — a technique which involves a finger moving along the string to its new note. The finger maintains pressure on the string, so that a continuous sound is produced.
Slur — sounding a note by using only the left hand fingers. (An ascending slur is also called a "hammer on"; a descending slur is also called a "pull off.")
Staccato — to play short and detached. Indicated by a dot placed above the note:x
Staff — five parallel lines together with four spaces, upon which music is written.
Syncopation — the placing of an accent on a normally unaccented beat, e.g.:
Tablature — a system of writing music which represents the position of the player’s fingers (not the pitch of the notes, but their position on the guitar). A chord diagram is a type of tablature. Notes can also be written using tablature thus:
Each line represents a string, and each number represents a fret.
Tempo — the speed of a piece.
Tie — a curved line joining two or more notes of the same pitch, where the second note(s) is not played, but its time value is added to that of the first note.
Timbre — a quality which distinguishes a note produced on one instrument from the same note produced on any other instrument (also called "tone color"). A given note on the guitar will sound different (and therefore distinguishable) from the same pitched note on piano, violin, flute etc. There is usually also a difference in timbre from one guitar to another.
Time signature — a sign at the beginning of a piece which indicates, by means of figures, the number of beats per bar (top figure), and the type of note receiving one beat (bottom figure).
Tone — a distance of two semitones; the equivalent of two frets.
Transposition — the process of changing music from one key to another
Treble — the upper regions of pitch in general.
Treble clef — a sign placed at the beginning of the staff to fix the pitch of the notes placed on it. The treble clef (also called "G clef") is placed so that the second line indicates a G note:
Tremolo (pick motion) — a technique involving rapid pick movement on a given note.
Triplet — a group of three notes played in the same time as two notes of the same kind.
Vibrato — a technique which involves pushing a string up and down, like a rapid series of short bends.
Wedge mark — indicates pick direction; e.g.:t=down pick, y =up pick
Whole note — a note with the value of four beats in * time, indicated thus ` (also called a semibreve).
The whole note rest, indicating four beats of silence, is written: fon 4th staff line.
Progressive Guitar Method Book1 Tabversion
For Beginning Guitarists
A comprehensive, lesson by lesson introduction to the guitar. Covers notes on all strings, reading music and tablature, picking technique and basic music theory. Incorporates well known traditional, Pop/Rock, Folk and Blues songs.
Progressive Guitar Method: Lead
For Beginner to Intermediate
Covers scales and patterns over the entire fretboard so that you can improvise against major, minor, and Blues progressions in any key. Learn the licks and techniques used by all lead guitarists such as hammer-ons, slides, bending, vibrato, pick tremolo, double notes, slurring and right hand tapping.
Progressive Guitar Method: Rhythm
For Beginning Rhythm Guitarists
Introduces all the important open chord shapes for major, minor, seventh, sixth, major seventh, minor seventh, suspended, diminished and augmented chords. Learn to play over 50 chord progressions, including 12 Bar Blues and Turnaround progressions.
Progressive Guitar Method: Chords
For Beginner to Advanced
Contains the most useful open, Bar and Jazz chord shapes of the most used chord types with chord progressions to practice and play along with. Includes special sections on tuning, how to read sheet music, transposing, the use of a capo, as well as an easy chord table, chord formula and chord symbol chart.
Progressive Guitar Method: Theory
For Beginner to Advanced
A comprehensive, introduction to music theory as it applies to the guitar. Covers reading traditional music, rhythm notation and tablature, along with learning the notes on the fretboard, how to construct chords and scales, transposition, musical terms and playing in all keys. A useful tool for songwriting and composition, and essential for any guitarist who wants to become a better musician.
Progressive Fingerpicking Guitar Licks
For Intermediate to Advanced
Featuring over 50 Fingerpicking guitar licks, riffs and solos which can be applied to Rock, Blues, Country or Folk styles. Incorporates licks based upon chords and chord progressions, monotonic bass lines and open tunings.
Progressive Fingerpicking Guitar Solos
For Intermediate to Advanced
A collection of great sounding fingerpicking guitar solos covering all styles of contemporary fingerpicking guitar, including Blues, Ragtime, Country, Boogie, Classical and Open Tunings.
Progressive Folk Fingerpicking Guitar
For Beginner to Intermediate
Teaches all the popular left and right hand techniques used in traditional and contemporary Folk fingerpicking guitar. The most common Folk progressions are combined with right hand fingerpicking Folk styles such as the Bass Strum Thumb style, Alternating Thumb style and the Arpeggio style. You do not need to read music to use this book.
Progressive Open Tuning Fingerpicking Guitar
For Intermediate to Advanced
Covers the most popular open tunings used in traditional and contemporary guitar styles including Open G, Open D, Open E and Open C tuning. Teaches basic chords and bar chords used in each tuning and contains many great sounding solos. You do not need to read music to use this book.
Progressive Jazz Fingerpicking Guitar
For Intermediate to Advanced
Teaches all the popular left and right hand techniques used in modern fingerpicking Jazz guitar. Learn how to fingerpick Jazz chord shapes and single note runs. Contains several solos based on traditional Jazz styles that use all the techniques outlined in the book. You do not need to read music to use this book.
Progressive Country Fingerpicking Guitar
For Beginner to Intermediate
Teaches all the popular left and right hand techniques used in traditional and contemporary Country fingerpicking guitar. The most common Country progressions are combined with right hand fingerpicking Country styles such as the Alternating Thumb style, Country Bass style and the Arpeggio style. You do not need to read music to use this book.
Progressive Rock Fingerpicking Guitar
For Intermediate to Advanced
Teaches all the popular left and right hand techniques used in modern fingerpicking Rock guitar. Learn how to fingerpick single notes as well as how to use three and four string chords to construct great sounding licks and solos. You do not need to read music to use this book.
Progressive Blues Fingerpicking Guitar
For Beginner to Intermediate
Teaches all the popular left and right hand techniques used in traditional and contemporary Blues fingerpicking guitar. Covers Blues progressions and Blues fingerpicking styles such as the Constant Bass Line style, Alternating Thumb style and Blues Slide. You do not need to read music to use this book.
Progressive Ragtime Fingerpicking Guitar
For Intermediate to Advanced
Teaches all the popular left and right hand techniques used in traditional and contemporary Ragtime fingerpicking guitar. Contains several classic Ragtime fingerpicking solos that make use of all the techniques that were introduced throughout the book. You do not need to read music to use this book.
Progressive Fingerpicking Classics Volumes 1 & 2
For Intermediate to Advanced
Each volume contains 20 Classical Masterpieces arranged for fingerstyle guitarists of all standards in Tablature and music notation.
