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.
Ad lib – to be played at the performer’s own discretion.
Anacrusis – a note or notes occurring before the first bar of music (also called "lead-in" notes).
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 line – a vertical line drawn across the staff which divides the music into equal sections called bars.
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.
e.g., C chromatic scale:
Common time – and indication of * time - four quarter note beats per bar (also indicated by Q)
D.C 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).
Eighth rest – indicating half a beat of silence is written:j
Enharmonic – describes the difference in notation, but not in pitch, of two notes, e.g.:
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).
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.:
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.:
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.
Natural – a sign (@) used to cancel our 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".
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;
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".
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 and exact repeat of the previous bar.
Semitone – the smallest interval used in conventional music.
Sharp – a sign (#) used to raise the pitch of a note by one semitone.
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 – displacing the normal flow of accents in music. Usually from on the beat to off the beat.
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.
Transposition – the process of changing music from one key to another.
Progressive Drum Method
For Beginner to Advanced
A comprehensive guide to playing the drums featuring all the important beats, rhythms, fills, rudiments, techniques and concepts required by today’s versatile performing drummer. Deals with important topics such as syncopation, accents, dynamics and independence. Covers a broad range of styles as well as odd-time playing.
Progressive Drum Grooves
For Beginner to Advanced
A valuable source of additional beats and fills in 10 of the most popular drumming styles. An excellent supplement to Progressive Drum Method, demonstrating a broad range of techniques, rhythms and ideas and giving over 300 beats and 130 fills.
Progressive Rock Drumming
For Beginner to Intermediate
A comprehensive lesson by lesson guide covering all aspects of playing drums in a group. Includes Rock techniques and timing, solos, rolls, fills, syncopation and rudiments.
Progressive Blues Drumming
For Beginner to Advanced
A complete method for learning to play authentically in the Blues idiom. Explains and demonstrates beats and fills in a variety of styles including Shuffles, Slow Blues, New Orleans second line beats and Funky R&B grooves. Several full length solos are also given to show how to play these styles in the context of a song.
Progressive Country Drumming
For Beginner to Advanced
A complete method for learning to play authentically in the Country idiom. Explains and demonstrates beats and fills in a variety of Country and Country Rock styles. Several full length solos are also given to show how to play these styles in the context of a song.
Progressive Heavy Metal Drumming
For Beginner to Advanced
Covers all the important beats, rhythms and fills used by the world’s best Heavy Metal drummers. Includes special section on double bass drum technique and features drum solos in the styles of Metallica, Iron Maiden, Guns & Roses, Slayer, Motley Crue, AC/DC, Anthrax, Def Leppard and Van Halen.
Progressive Rock, Jazz And Funk Drumming
For Intermediate to Advanced
Introduces the Rock drummer to the techniques, rudiments and rhythms required to play the more interesting and advanced drum patterns used in Rock, Jazz and Funk music today. Includes sample drum solos in the styles of several great drummers.
