Word of the Day Archives - Best Music Blog

Word of the Day

Ballad. (1) A piece played at a slow speed. Example: “Little Wing” by Jimi Hendrix.(2) A Medieval dance song. (3) A song that tells a story. Example: “The Ballad of John and Yoko” by The Beatles.

Ballad. (1) A piece played at a slow speed.Example: "Little Wing" by Jimi Hendrix.(2) A…

Best Music CoachMay 10, 2021

Word of the Day

Accelerando (Ah-chel-er-on-doh). An instruction to play music with increasing speed. To become faster.

Accelerando (Ah-chel-er-on-doh). An instruction to play music with increasing speed. To become faster. pic.twitter.com/zjbUTmRIsZ— The…

Best Music CoachMay 3, 2021

Word of the Day

Arpeggiator. A feature on analog and digital electronic organs and synthesizers that originated in the 1960s. An arpeggiator breaks up chords played on the instrument into an arpeggio (a broken chord). Different arpeggios can be programmed to play such as Alberti bass.

Arpeggiator. A feature on analog and digital electronic organs and synthesizers that originated in the…

Best Music CoachApril 26, 2021

Word of the Day

Aural Training. Also known as “ear training”, aural training is the study of hearing, notating, and singing intervals, chords, harmonies, and rhythms without the use of an instrument for reference.

Aural Training. Also known as "ear training", aural training is the study of hearing, notating,…

Best Music CoachApril 19, 2021

Word of the Day

Add 2, Added Second. A chord with a note a major 2nd above the root added into the triad. For example, a C add 2 chord would be spelled as C, D, E, G.

Add 2, Added Second. A chord with a note a major 2nd above the root…

Best Music CoachApril 12, 2021

Word of the Day

Background Vocalist. A singer who supports the lead singer by singing harmonies, in unison, accenting or repeating phrases, or singing other backing vocals. 3 singers who began as background singers:Example 1: Whitney Houston.Example 2: Luther Vandross.Example 3: Sheryl Crow.

Background Vocalist. A singer who supports the lead singer by singing harmonies, in unison, accenting…

Best Music CoachApril 5, 2021

Word of the Day

Analysis. The study and understanding of musical structure on many levels. Example 1: Understand how each melody note relates to the tonic. Example 2: Understand how each chord or implied harmony relates to the tonic and to each other. Example 3: Understand the form of lyrics.

Analysis. The study and understanding of musical structure on many levels.Example 1: Understand how each…

Best Music CoachMarch 29, 2021

Word of the Day

Appassionato. A mark to play the music that follows the instruction with passion. Also the title of many songs by different composers in the Classical and Romanic eras.

Appassionato. A mark to play the music that follows the instruction with passion. Also the…

Best Music CoachMarch 22, 2021

Word of the Day

Alla Breve (pronounced Ah-Lah Brev). A musical meter indicated with the “cut-time” time signature in which two half notes are each given one beat. Breve is the European term for half note.

Alla Breve (pronounced Ah-Lah Brev). A musical meter indicated with the "cut-time" time signature in…

Best Music CoachMarch 15, 2021

Word of the Day

Apoyando. The technique of plucking in classical or flamenco guitar in which the finger that plucked a string comes to rest on the next nearest string in the direction of the pluck. This technique is commonly referred to as a “rest stroke”.

Apoyando. The technique of plucking in classical or flamenco guitar in which the finger that…

Best Music CoachMarch 8, 2021