music gcse- studio terms/effects and guitar techniques/sounds key vocab

sequencer

computer programme that plays notes back when you want them to

FX

short for ‘effects’ applied

reverb

a general atmospheric effect, sounds similar to being in a hall for example

delay

actual repetition of original source material, could be extremely short or quite long

chorus

effect commonly used on guitars to sound like there are more than one guitar playing

flanger

similar to chorus, but with ‘aeroplane’ engine type quality running through it

samples

recordings played at will using a programmed keyboard or sequencer

synthesizer

electronic instrument that can be manipulated to create many variations on a given timbre

panning

movement or positioning from left to right in the stereo field

backing vocals (BV)

provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists

lead vocal

most prominent voice, ‘leading’ the piece

EQ (equaliser)

fine bass and treble control which can alter particularly frequencies

sub bass

boomy very low bass tone that is more ‘felt’ than heard

mixer

desk to create particular balance between instruments

overdubbing

adding another part on another track after the first one

power chords

chords based on perfect open 5ths

slide

rapid movement across frets

pizzicato

plucking individual strings

distortion

sounds like amplifier is too loud and speaker/electronics can’t cope with the level- popular in rock and other styles

mute

device that enables player to play more quietly- can also change the timbre significantly eg a trumpet mute

brushes

instead of sticks on the drum kit, brushes are gentler and can have a whooshing sound when played on snare. often used in jazz