Musical Glossary

Musical Glossary

  • Beat - The basic pulse you tap your foot to

  • Downbeat - Beat 1 of each measure (strongest beat)

  • Upbeat - The weak beats, especially beat 2 and 4

  • Backbeat - Emphasis on beats 2 and 4 (snare hits)

  • Off-beat - Between the main beats

  • On-beat - Directly on the main pulse

  • 4/4 time - Four quarter notes per measure

  • 3/4 time - Three quarter notes per measure (waltz)

  • 6/8 time - Six eighth notes, felt as two groups of three

  • Quarter notes - One per beat in 4/4

  • Eighth notes - Two per beat

  • 16th notes - Four per beat

  • Triplets - Three evenly spaced notes in the time of two

  • Dotted rhythms - Note + half its value (dotted quarter = 1.5 beats)

  • Syncopation - Accenting weak beats or off-beats

  • Anticipation - Playing a note slightly before the expected beat

  • Delayed attack - Playing slightly after the expected beat

  • Rhythmic displacement - Moving a pattern off its normal position

  • Metric modulation - Changing from one time feel to another

  • Cross-rhythm - Rhythm that conflicts with the established meter

  • Hemiola - 3 against 2 rhythm (or vice versa)

  • Polyrhythm - Multiple contrasting rhythms played simultaneously

  • Cross-beats - Systematic conflicts between different rhythmic layers

  • Ostinato - Repeated rhythmic/melodic pattern

  • Clave - Fundamental rhythmic pattern (especially in Latin music)

  • Interlocking rhythms - Patterns that fit together like puzzle pieces

  • Layered percussion - Multiple percussion parts creating complex texture

  • Swing - Uneven eighth notes (long-short pattern)

  • Straight - Even eighth notes

  • Shuffle - Triplet-based swing feel

  • Bounce - Rhythmic lift or buoyancy

  • Pocket - When rhythm section locks together perfectly

  • Laid back - Playing slightly behind the beat

  • On top - Playing slightly ahead of the beat

  • In the pocket - Playing exactly with the groove

  • Accent - Emphasis on a particular note

  • Ghost note - Very quiet note (especially on snare)

  • Rim shot - Snare hit on rim and head simultaneously

  • Flam - Two drum hits almost simultaneously

  • Roll - Rapid repeated hits

  • Crescendo - Getting louder

  • Diminuendo - Getting quieter

  • Four-on-the-floor - Kick on every quarter note

  • Open hi-hat - Hi-hat on off-beats

  • Filter sweep - Gradually opening/closing frequency filter

  • Build-up - Gradual increase in energy/elements

  • Drop - Moment when full beat returns after build-up

  • Break - Section where drums drop out

  • Breakdown - Stripped-down section

  • Clave rhythm - Fundamental 3+2 or 2+3 pattern

  • Montuno - Repeated piano pattern

  • Tumbao - Bass line pattern in salsa/Latin music

  • Cascara - Stick pattern played on timbales

  • Bembe - 12/8 Afro-Cuban rhythm

  • Call and response - Musical conversation between parts

  • Maracas - Gourd shakers

  • Shekere - Beaded gourd

  • Cabasa - Chain-wrapped cylinder

  • Egg shakers - Small handheld shakers

  • Djembe - Goblet-shaped West African drum

  • Conga - Tall barrel drum

  • Bongo - Small paired drums

  • Frame drum - Shallow, wide drum

  • Cowbell - Metal bell

  • Agogo - Double bell

  • Claves - Wooden sticks

  • Güiro - Scraped gourd

  • Talking drum - Pitch-bendable African drum

  • Djembe - Goblet-shaped West African drum

  • Conga - Tall barrel drum

  • Bongo - Small paired drums

  • Frame drum - Shallow, wide drum

  • BPM - Beats per minute

  • Rubato - Flexible timing

  • Ritardando - Slowing down

  • Accelerando - Speeding up

  • Half-time feel - Groove feels twice as slow

  • Double-time feel - Groove feels twice as fast

  • Metric modulation - Mathematical tempo change

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