GCSE MUSIC AO4-POPULAR MUSIC

Riff

A short, repeated pattern.

Hammer on

Finger brought sharply down onto the string.

Pitch bend

Altering (bending) the pitch slightly.

Power chords

A guitar chord using the root and 5th note (no 3rd).

Distortion

An effect which distorts the sound (creates a 'grungy' sound).

Slap bass

A percussive sound on the bass guitar made by bouncing the strings on the fret board.

Fill

A short, improvised drum solo.

Rim shot

Rim and head of drum hit at same time.

Belt

A bright, powerful vocal sound, high in the chest voice.

Falsetto

Male voice in a higher than usual range.

Syllabic

One note sung per syllable.

Melismatic

Each syllable sung to a number of different notes.

Fusion

When two different styles are mixed together.

A cappella

Voices singing without instrumental accompaniment.

Amplified

Made louder (with an amplifier).

Synthesized

Sounds created electronically.

Panning

Moving the sound between left and right speakers.

Phasing

A delay effect.

Sample

A short section of music that is reused (e.g. looped, layered).

Reverb

An electronic echo effect.

INTRO

Short opening section, usually instrumental.

VERSE

Same music but different lyrics each time.

CHORUS

Repeated with the same lyrics each time (refrain).

MIDDLE EIGHT

A link section, often eight bars, with different musical ideas.

BRIDGE

A link/transition between two sections.

OUTRO

An ending to finish the song (coda).