Music - Articulation - Appendix C

Syllabic

one note per syllable

Humming

make a low, steady continuous sound like that of a bee

Melismatic

many notes per syllable

Vibrato

slightly throbbing or pulsating effect, adding warmth and beauty to the tone

Falsetto

When a voice sings higher than usual eg tenor sings higher

Belt

Singing shout held for a long time

Staccato

short and detached

Legato

smooth

Sustained

Continuing for an extended period or without interruption

Accent

Emphasise the note

Pizzicato

plucking the strings

Arco

play with the bow

Divisi

performers playing the same part are divided to sing different parts

Double stopping

playing two strings at once

Tremolo

rapid repetition of a tone or chord, without apparent breaks, to express emotion

Distortion

loss of accuracy

Hammer on

Articulation on guitar produced by sliding the finger from one fret to the next up and back.

Rim shot

(drumming technique) one loud hit

Slap bass

a technique in which the bass player percussively hits the low strings of the instrument while picking melodies on the higher ones

Drum roll

Alternating drum strokes rapidly

Muted

silent; muffled; toned down

Glissando

rapid slide up or down a scale

Pitch bend

Changing the pitch of a note, for example by pushing a guitar string upwards.

Plucked

Relates to strings, without a bow

Slurred

Long, smoothed notes that blend to each other

Tongued

When the tongue is used to separate notes on woodwind and brass instruments

Detached

Staccato notes, bouncy, short