Glossary

accompaniment
●

● acid jazz
Glossary
● acoustic bass
This is a list of all important terms used in this program.
● alto saxophone
Select a term from the list at left, or simply scroll the list
● angular
below.
● arrangement
● articulation accompaniment
● atonal Music played in support of the melody, whether
● avant-garde composed or improvised. Typically, the rhythm
● backbeat section (piano, bass, drums) provides the
● background accompaniment.
● ballad acid jazz
● banjo A fusion of jazz improvisation and hip hop rhythms
acoustic bass
● baritone saxophone
A stringed instrument that is also known as the
● bass double bass, acoustic bass, string bass, or contrabass.
● bass guitar It is typically used as a bass instrument in most styles
● beat of jazz.
● bebop alto saxophone
● bent pitch A woodwind instrument of the saxophone family,
● big band pitched higher than the tenor but lower than the
● blue note soprano
angular
● blues
A melody that contains many leaps of wide intervals,
● blues progression or one that changes direction often and in unexpected
● blues scale places
● boogie-woogie arrangement
● bop A set of written or verbal instructions that specify the
● bossa nova nature of the various components of a performance
● brass of a composition (intro, head, accompaniment, solos,
● break interludes, coda, etc.) and the order in which they are
put together
● bridge
articulation
● call and response
Specifics on how a note is played - whether the
● chamber jazz tongue is used to start or stop the note (on wind
● changes instruments), whether it is plucked or bowed (on
● chart stringed instruments), etc.
● Chicago jazz atonal
● chord Music that has no well-defined tonal center; it often
● chord changes also implies the lack of chords or other traditional
● chord progression harmonic structures

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Glossary

● chord symbol avant-garde

● chorus A style of music on the forefront of experimentation;
● city blues originally applied to jazz styles such as freebop and
● clarinet expressionism
backbeat
● classic blues
The second and fourth beats of a four beat measure.
● clave The term also refers to a rhythmic pattern that
● cliche strongly emphasizes these beats.
● cluster background
● coda A part played in accompaniment. The term typically
● collective improvisation implies accompaniment played by melody
● combo instruments.
● composition ballad
A relatively slow, quiet, and pretty composition
● conduction
banjo
● conga
A stringed instrument similar to a guitar; often used
● construction as a chordal instrument in traditional jazz styles
● contemporary jazz baritone saxophone
● contrabass A woodwind instrument of the saxophone family,
● contrafact pitched lower than the tenor, used as either a melody
● cool instrument or a bass instrument
● cornet bass
● countermelody The low notes; the role of any instrument that
typically plays low notes. The term often refers
● counterpoint
specifically to the acoustic bass
● country blues bass guitar
● cymbal A larger, lower pitched version of an electric guitar.
● dissonance It is used as a bass instrument, particularly in soul
● Dixieland jazz and fusion syles.
● double beat
● double bass A regular subdivision of time that forms the basis for
● drum the pulse
bebop
● drum set
A style of jazz that developed from swing and
● drums
emphasizes virtuoso soloing
● duo bent pitch
● dynamics A note that is made to rise or fall in pitch while it is
● electronic effects being played
● embouchure big band
● energy music An ensemble of greater than ten or so players. The
● ensemble standard is around seventeen.
● expression blue note
A note that is flat (low in pitch) compared to its
● expressionism

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● extended effects counterpart in a standard major scale

● fall blues
● field holler A style of music derived in part from work songs
● flat fifth used during slavery; a precursor and component of
jazz.
● flute
blues progression
● four-beat A twelve measure chord progression, divided into
● fours three four-bar phrases and based on the I, IV, and V
● free improvisation chords, often used in blues and in jazz
● free jazz blues scale
● freebop A scale that includes one or more blue notes and is
● funk typically used in blues
● fusion boogie-woogie
A style of jazz, typically played on piano, that uses a
● Giant Steps changes
repeating left hand bass line pattern
● gig
bop
● gospel See bebop
● groove bossa nova
● group improvisation A style of jazz derived in part from the Brazilian
● growl samba
● guitar brass
● hard bop A family of instruments, usually made of brass, in
● harmolodics which sound is produced through the vibration of the
lips. The pitch is determined in part by the
● harmony
embouchure, but in most cases it is also affected by a
● head mechanism to change the effective length of the
● head arrangement tubing, such as valves or a slide.
● horn break
● hot A short unaccompanied lead-in to a solo
● impressionism bridge
● improvisation The "B" section in a AABA form, or any theme that
● interlude serves as a secondary theme to the main theme in a
head
● interpolation
call and response
● intro
A musical device in which one musician plays a
● introduction phrase and another musician plays a related phrase in
● jazz response
● key chamber jazz
● key center A fusion of impressionistic jazz and European
● kick classical music
● Latin jazz changes
● lay out A chord progression
chart
● lead sheet

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Glossary

● lick A written arrangement, whether a full score for many

● long form instruments or a lead sheet
● major chord Chicago jazz
● major key A style of traditional jazz that emphasizes solos and
four-beat rhythms
● major scale
chord
● marimba A set of notes sounded together, formed according to
● melody certain rules of harmony
● minimalism chord changes
● modal A chord progression
● modulation chord progression
● mute A series of chords used to harmonize a melody or to
● neoclassicism provide a basis for improvisation
chord symbol
● New Age music
A written symbol used to indicate a chord
● New Orleans jazz
chorus
● non-idiomatic improvisation One time through the chord progression for a
● nonet composition
● octet city blues
● offbeat A form of blues that emphasizes jazz elements, also
● organ known as classic blues
● paragraph clarinet
● pastiche A family of woodwind instruments with a straight
bore in which sound is produced by a vibrating reed.
● percussion
The term usually refers to the soprano clarinet, but
● phrase the bass clarinet is also not uncommon in jazz.
● piano classic blues
● postmodernism A form of blues that emphasizes jazz elements, also
● pulse known as city blues
● pulse track clave
● quartet A rhythmic pattern that underlies Afro-Cuban music
● quintet cliche
An ostensibly "improvised" phrase that has been
● quote
played many times by many musicians
● ragtime
cluster
● release A set of notes sounded togheter that do not form any
● restructuralism standard chord - especially a set of notes close
● rhythm together on the piano
● rhythm changes coda
● rhythm section A section of an arrangement that follows the last
● riff performance of the head and serves to conclude the
● root piece
collective improvisation
● salsa

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Glossary

● saxophone Several musicians improvising at once

● scale combo
● scat A small ensemble, typically referring to groups of
● score three to seven players
composition
● section
The elements of a performance that are
● septet predetermined or written down
● sextet conduction
● shake A type of performance in which the leader directs the
● shout chorus improvisations of the other players through hand
● shuffle gestures
● sideman conga
● smooth jazz A tall drum played with the bare hand, typically
found in Afro-Cuban music
● solo
construction
● song form
The act of turning a musical idea into a specific
● soprano saxophone phrase
● soul jazz contemporary jazz
● splat See smooth jazz
● stanza contrabass
● stop time See acoustic bass
● straight eighth notes contrafact
● stride A composition based on the chord progression of
another composition
● string bass
cool
● stroll A relaxed by emotionally detached mood
● style cornet
● sweet A brass instrument similar to the trumpet but shorter
● swing and fatter, employing a conical rather than
● swing eighth notes cylindrical bore
● tailgate countermelody
● tambourine A secondary melody played simultaneously with the
main melody.
● tempo
counterpoint
● tenor saxophone
The act of playing several melodic lines at once
● tension country blues
● theme An early and relatively simple form of the blues,
● third stream usually played and sung by a single performer
● timbales cymbal
● timbre A large, round percussion instrument made of metal
● tonal dissonance
● tone A combination of notes that is heard as harmonically
unstable or unpleasant
● tonic

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Glossary

● traditional jazz Dixieland

● trap set Slang term for traditional (New Orleans / Chicago)
● triangle jazz
● trio double
Being able to play more than one instrument (not at
● trombone
the same time!)
● trumpet double bass
● tuba See acoustic bass
● two-beat drum
● unit structure A percussion instrument consisting of a skin
● vamp stretched across a frame.
● verse drum set
● vibraharp A set of drums, cymbals, and other percussion
instruments arranged for a single musician to play
● vibraphone
drums
● vibrato
The plural of "drum", this term often is used to refer
● violin to a drum set
● vocalese duo
● walking An ensemble consisting of two musicians
● West coast jazz dynamics
● woodwind Loudness; often referring to variations in loudness
● work song electronic effects
Electronic devices used to alter the sounds of
instruments, such as artifical echo
embouchure
The manner in which one must form the mouth in
order to play a wind instrument
energy music
See expressionism
ensemble
A group of musicians performing together
expression
Any of hundreds of different variables a musician
can control when playing a note, including dynamics
and articulation
expressionism
A high energy form of music in which soloists
stretch out over simple themes
extended effects
General term for any of a number of ways musicians
can alter the sounds of their instruments, such as
removing a valve, plucking the strings inside the
piano, and so forth

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Glossary

fall
A musical effect in which the pitch of a note is made
to fall dramatically after the initial sounding
field holler
See work song
flat fifth
An interval consisting of six semitones, such as
between C and F#. It is relatively dissonant and
gained notoriety through its use in bebop
flute
A woodwind instrument in which the sound is
produced without a reed.
four-beat
A rhythm that emphasizes all four beats in a measure
more or less equally
fours
A musical device in which to or more soloists take
turns improvising four measure phrases. Often, one
of the musicians is the drummer.
free improvisation
Improvisation with no chord progression or other
predetermined structure to guide the process
free jazz
Any form of jazz that uses free improvisation
freebop
A form of jazz that is similar to bebop but in which
predetermined chord progressions are not used to
guide the improvisation
funk
Originally, jazz with a pronounced gospel influence.
Later, a style of R&B music or jazz-rock fusion.
fusion
A hybrid of jazz and rock
Giant Steps changes
The chord progression of John Coltrane's "Giant
Steps", or any pattern of rapid modulations by major
thirds. Coltrane and others have used this idea to
harmonize a number of compositions.
gig
Term used by musicians to refer to a performance or
other job
gospel
Music played in black Christian churches, usually

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Glossary

ecstatic in nature
groove
An underlying pattern behind a musical performance,
consisting of a rhythmic component and perhaps a
melodic riff as well. The term implies danceability.
group improvisation
Several musicians improvising at once
growl
A musical effect in which the player vocalizes
through his instrument to emulate a growl
guitar
A stringed instrument capable of playing chords as
well as melodies
hard bop
A form of jazz related to bebop but with a stronger
gospel influence
harmolodics
The theory that melody, harmony, and rhythm should
be of equal importance in collective improvisation.
In harmolodics, any musician might be responsible
for any of these roles at any time. The term was
coined by Ornette Coleman to describe his approach
to music.
harmony
The perception of notes sounded at once. The term
often refers to the chords that underlie a melody, or
to the theory that underlies the construction of these
chords
head
The composed theme or themes in a composition
head arrangement
A simple arrangement in which the ensemble plays
the head, then takes turns soloing over the chord
progression, then plays the head again
horn
Literally, a brass instrument, but commonly used by
jazz musicians to refer to any wind instrument, and
occassionally other instruments as well
hot
An excited mood
impressionism
A form of jazz involving collective improvisation in
which the musicians often forego their standard

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Glossary

ensemble roles and instead contribute whatever the

music seems to need in the moment
improvisation
The act of creating music that has not been
predetermined. This term often refers specifically to
the act of playing new melodic lines as part of a solo.
interlude
Any musical passage that occurs between choruses in
an arrangement, whether between the head and the
first solo, within a solo, between solos, or between
the last solo and the return to the head
interpolation
The act of playing a phrase taken from another
composition or well-known improvisation within the
context of one's own improvisation. Also known as
quoting.
intro
See introduction
introduction
A musical passage played before the first statement
of the primary theme
jazz
A genre of music that is the subject of this program.
While no simple definition exists for jazz, the most
important elements of jazz are often said to be swing
and improvisation.
key
See key center
key center
The scale that underlies the composition. The term
often refers specifically to the note at the root of this
scale. This note is the one toward which the other
notes and chords seem to be leading.
kick
A composed phrase that is played in rhythmic unison
by the accompanying instruments behind a melody,
whether composed or improvised
Latin jazz
A hybrid of jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythms
lay out
To not play. Generally refers to rhythm section
players choosing to not play accompaniment for a
chorus or two.

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Glossary

lead sheet
A written representation of the theme and the
accompanying chords for a composition. This is all
that is required in order to play a head arrangement.
lick
A phrase that an improvisor has practiced for use in
improvisation, or one that sounds practiced
long form
A composition that contains multiple themes
interspersed with solo sections, interludes, or other
passages
major chord
A chord consisting of a root and notes a major third
and perfect fifth above the root, such as C, E, G
major key
A key center corresponding to a major scale
major scale
A series of notes consisting of whole steps and half
steps in the ascending pattern WWHWWWH, such
as C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C
marimba
A pitched percussion instrument consisting of
wooden bars struck by a mallet
melody
The perception of notes sounded one at a time; a
series of pitches intended to be heard in succession.
The melody is the part of a composition that one
might sing.
minimalism
A deliberate reduction in complexity of melody,
harmony, or rhythm, often involving repetition
modal
A system of harmony in which the chords do not
relate to any specific key center. Each new chord
seems to come from a different key and suggest the
use of a different scale.
modulation
A transition from one key center to another
mute
A small device inserted into the bell of a brass
instrument to alter the timbre of the sound produced
neoclassicism
An effort to faithfully recreate elements of an earlier

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Glossary

style
New Age music
A genre of meditative music that may involve
improvisation
New Orleans jazz
A style of traditional jazz that emphasizes collective
improvisation and two-beat rhythms
non-idiomatic improvisation
A manner of improvisation in which no concessions
are made to the conventions any specific style
nonet
A nine piece ensemble
octet
An eight piece ensemble
offbeat
The second "half" of a beat (which might actually be
shorter than half a beat in a swing rhythm)
organ
A keyboard instrument in which sounds are
generated by air blowing through pipes or reeds, or
an electronic simulation of such an instrument
paragraph
See stanza
pastiche
A combination of styles in which the component
parts are left whole, such as a medley
percussion
A family of instruments in which sound is produced
by striking the instrument
phrase
A self-contained portion of melody, such as what
would correspond to one line of lyrics
piano
A stringed keyboard instrument that is considered to
be a member of the percussion family because the
sound is produced by hammers that strikes the strings
postmodernism
A style of music that consciously draws from
elements of other styles
pulse
The beat; the rhythmic pattern underlying a groove
pulse track
A structure invented by Anthony Braxton to organize

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Glossary

accompaniment. A pulse track consists of shape

notations that specify the outline of the
accompaniment on a beat by beat basis.
quartet
An ensemble of four musicians
quintet
An ensemble of five musicians
quote
The act of playing a phrase taken from another
composition or well-known improvisation within the
context of one's own improvisation. Also known as
interpolation.
ragtime
A form of music, usually composed for the piano,
that combines European harmonies with syncopated
rhythms
release
The absence of tension
restructuralism
The act of breaking convention to create new
structures
rhythm
The perception of sounds heard with respect to time.
The term often implies a regular division of time that
serves as the "beat", and all other sounds are heard
relative to the beat.
rhythm changes
The chord progression of George Gershwin's "I Got
Rhythm", which has been used a basis for hundreds
if not thousands of other composition and is seen as a
basic rite of passage for improvisors
rhythm section
A subset of an ensemble that is primary reponsible
for providing accompaniment. It typically consists of
piano or guitar, bass, and drums.
riff
A repeated melodic phrase
root
The defining note of a chord
salsa
Latin jazz; particularly music that favors the Afro-
Cuban elements
saxophone

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A family of woodwind instruments with a conical

bore that produce sound by a vibrating reed. They are
usually curved and made of brass.
scale
A series of notes in a pattern of steps
scat
Improvised vocals using nonsense syllables
score
A written arrangement, particularly one that specifies
parts for several instruments
section
A group of related instruments in an ensemble, such
as a saxophone section or trombone section
septet
A seven piece ensemble
sextet
A six piece ensemble
shake
A musical effect in which the pitch of a note is made
to rise and fall rapidly
shout chorus
A passage in a big band arrangement in which the
melody instruments play a line (usually highly
syncopated) in rhythmic unison. A shout chorus
usually serves as an interlude between the head and
solos.
shuffle
A four-beat rhythm with a very exaggerated sense of
swing
sideman
A member of an ensemble who is not the leader
smooth jazz
A term used by some radio stations and critics to
refer to a fusion of jazz and "pop" music
solo
A passage in which one musician improvises new
melodies, usually with the accompaniment of a
rhythm section
song form
A thirty-two measure head consisting of two related
themes, denoted "A" and "B", in the pattern AABA.
This was a very popular form for popular songs and
show tunes during the first half of the 20th century.

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Glossary

soprano saxophone
A woodwind instrument of the saxophone family,
pitched higher than the alto. It is most commonly
found in a straight form.
soul jazz
Hard bop with an even stronger gospel influence.
splat
A musical effect in which a note is played with no
definite pitch
stanza
A phrase and the successive phrases that relate to it
through repetition, variation, call and response, or
other devices
stop time
A musical device in which the rhythm section ceases
to outline the pulse and instead plays only on the
downbeats of successive measures, in order to
provide more room for the soloist
straight eighth notes
Eighth notes in which each note takes exactly half a
beat. These are the standard eighth notes in classical
music.
stride
A style of piano jazz in which the left hand plays
alternating bass notes and chord voicings in a steady
pattern
string bass
See acoustic bass
stroll
See lay out
style
Elements common to a number musical
performances that identify them as being related
sweet
A mood that conveys romance
swing
A style of jazz that relies on four-beat rhythms, or the
pulse that underlies this music
swing eighth notes
Eighth notes in which the first "half" of each beat is
prolonged. The exact ratio depends on style, tempo,
and personal preference
tailgate

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A style of trombone playing that combines

counterpoint and bass roles; common in traditional
(New Orleans / Chicago) jazz
tambourine
A hand drum that often includes small cymbals that
shake when the instrument is struck
tempo
The number of beats per minute
tenor saxophone
A woodwind instrument of the saxophone family,
pitched higher than the baritone but lower than the
alto
tension
An unstable state in music. It is most commonly
thought of in terms of harmonic dissonance but may
come from many different sources.
theme
A composed melody in a composition.
third stream
A style of music that combines jazz and European
classic influences
timbales
A type of drum that is prominent in Afro-Cuban
music
timbre
The type of sound produced by an instrument or
voice
tonal
Harmony in which chords serve in a well-defined
relationship to a key center
tone
See timbre
tonic
The defining note of a scale or key center
traditional jazz
Styles of jazz that were popular at the beginning of
the era of recorded jazz. The term includes both New
Orleans and Chicago styles.
trap set
See drum set
triangle
A percussion instrument consisting of a metal bar
shaped into a triangle and struck with a stick

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Glossary

trio
An ensemble of three musicians
trombone
A brass instrument in which the pitch is determined
in part by a slide that changes the effective length of
the tubing. The instrument is pitched lower than the
trumpet.
trumpet
A brass instrument consisting of a fairly complex
network of curved piping. Valves control the
effective length of the tubing, and thus the pitch. The
instrument is pitched higher than the trombone.
tuba
A very low pitched brass instrument that uses valves
to control the pitch.
two-beat
A rhythm in which the first and third beats of a
measure are emphasized over the second and fourth
unit structure
Term used by Cecil Taylor to describe the manner in
which melodic or rhythmic fragments serve as a
basis for improvisation in his music
vamp
A short sequence of chords that is repeated over and
over again
verse
An introduction to a show tune that serves as a
transition between the dialogue and the song form
vibraharp
See vibraphone
vibraphone
A pitched percussion instrument in which metal bars
are struck by mallets and tubular resonators help to
amplify the sound. The resonators contain rotating
disks that create vibrato.
vibrato
A slight wavering in pitch
violin
A stringed instrument in which strings are drawn
with a box or plucked in order to produce sound
vocalese
A technique in which lyrics are written for an
existing recorded solo

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Glossary

walking
A bass line that consists mostly of quarter notes to
outline the pulse
West coast jazz
Cool jazz, particularly performances that create
harmony through counterpoint among melody
instruments as opposed to the use of chordal
instruments
woodwind
A family of wind instruments in which the vibrations
that cause sound occur on or within the instrument
work song
A song used by black American slaves

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 Glossary

Glossary
This is a list of all important terms used in this program. Select a term from the list at left, or simply
scroll the list below.

accompaniment
Music played in support of the melody, whether composed or improvised. Typically, the rhythm
section (piano, bass, drums) provides the accompaniment.
acid jazz
A fusion of jazz improvisation and hip hop rhythms
acoustic bass
A stringed instrument that is also known as the double bass, acoustic bass, string bass, or
contrabass. It is typically used as a bass instrument in most styles of jazz.
alto saxophone
A woodwind instrument of the saxophone family, pitched higher than the tenor but lower than the
soprano
angular
A melody that contains many leaps of wide intervals, or one that changes direction often and in
unexpected places
arrangement
A set of written or verbal instructions that specify the nature of the various components of a
performance of a composition (intro, head, accompaniment, solos, interludes, coda, etc.) and the
order in which they are put together
articulation
Specifics on how a note is played - whether the tongue is used to start or stop the note (on wind
instruments), whether it is plucked or bowed (on stringed instruments), etc.
atonal
Music that has no well-defined tonal center; it often also implies the lack of chords or other
traditional harmonic structures
avant-garde
A style of music on the forefront of experimentation; originally applied to jazz styles such as
freebop and expressionism
backbeat
The second and fourth beats of a four beat measure. The term also refers to a rhythmic pattern
that strongly emphasizes these beats.
background
A part played in accompaniment. The term typically implies accompaniment played by melody
instruments.
ballad
A relatively slow, quiet, and pretty composition
banjo

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 Glossary

A stringed instrument similar to a guitar; often used as a chordal instrument in traditional jazz
styles
baritone saxophone
A woodwind instrument of the saxophone family, pitched lower than the tenor, used as either a
melody instrument or a bass instrument
bass
The low notes; the role of any instrument that typically plays low notes. The term often refers
specifically to the acoustic bass
bass guitar
A larger, lower pitched version of an electric guitar. It is used as a bass instrument, particularly in
soul jazz and fusion syles.
beat
A regular subdivision of time that forms the basis for the pulse
bebop
A style of jazz that developed from swing and emphasizes virtuoso soloing
bent pitch
A note that is made to rise or fall in pitch while it is being played
big band
An ensemble of greater than ten or so players. The standard is around seventeen.
blue note
A note that is flat (low in pitch) compared to its counterpart in a standard major scale
blues
A style of music derived in part from work songs used during slavery; a precursor and component
of jazz.
blues progression
A twelve measure chord progression, divided into three four-bar phrases and based on the I, IV,
and V chords, often used in blues and in jazz
blues scale
A scale that includes one or more blue notes and is typically used in blues
boogie-woogie
A style of jazz, typically played on piano, that uses a repeating left hand bass line pattern
bop
See bebop
bossa nova
A style of jazz derived in part from the Brazilian samba
brass
A family of instruments, usually made of brass, in which sound is produced through the vibration
of the lips. The pitch is determined in part by the embouchure, but in most cases it is also affected
by a mechanism to change the effective length of the tubing, such as valves or a slide.
break
A short unaccompanied lead-in to a solo
bridge
The "B" section in a AABA form, or any theme that serves as a secondary theme to the main

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theme in a head
call and response
A musical device in which one musician plays a phrase and another musician plays a related
phrase in response
chamber jazz
A fusion of impressionistic jazz and European classical music
changes
A chord progression
chart
A written arrangement, whether a full score for many instruments or a lead sheet
Chicago jazz
A style of traditional jazz that emphasizes solos and four-beat rhythms
chord
A set of notes sounded together, formed according to certain rules of harmony
chord changes
A chord progression
chord progression
A series of chords used to harmonize a melody or to provide a basis for improvisation
chord symbol
A written symbol used to indicate a chord
chorus
One time through the chord progression for a composition
city blues
A form of blues that emphasizes jazz elements, also known as classic blues
clarinet
A family of woodwind instruments with a straight bore in which sound is produced by a vibrating
reed. The term usually refers to the soprano clarinet, but the bass clarinet is also not uncommon
in jazz.
classic blues
A form of blues that emphasizes jazz elements, also known as city blues
clave
A rhythmic pattern that underlies Afro-Cuban music
cliche
An ostensibly "improvised" phrase that has been played many times by many musicians
cluster
A set of notes sounded togheter that do not form any standard chord - especially a set of notes
close together on the piano
coda
A section of an arrangement that follows the last performance of the head and serves to conclude
the piece
collective improvisation
Several musicians improvising at once
combo

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A small ensemble, typically referring to groups of three to seven players

composition
The elements of a performance that are predetermined or written down
conduction
A type of performance in which the leader directs the improvisations of the other players through
hand gestures
conga
A tall drum played with the bare hand, typically found in Afro-Cuban music
construction
The act of turning a musical idea into a specific phrase
contemporary jazz
See smooth jazz
contrabass
See acoustic bass
contrafact
A composition based on the chord progression of another composition
cool
A relaxed by emotionally detached mood
cornet
A brass instrument similar to the trumpet but shorter and fatter, employing a conical rather than
cylindrical bore
countermelody
A secondary melody played simultaneously with the main melody.
counterpoint
The act of playing several melodic lines at once
country blues
An early and relatively simple form of the blues, usually played and sung by a single performer
cymbal
A large, round percussion instrument made of metal
dissonance
A combination of notes that is heard as harmonically unstable or unpleasant
Dixieland
Slang term for traditional (New Orleans / Chicago) jazz
double
Being able to play more than one instrument (not at the same time!)
double bass
See acoustic bass
drum
A percussion instrument consisting of a skin stretched across a frame.
drum set
A set of drums, cymbals, and other percussion instruments arranged for a single musician to play
drums
The plural of "drum", this term often is used to refer to a drum set

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duo
An ensemble consisting of two musicians
dynamics
Loudness; often referring to variations in loudness
electronic effects
Electronic devices used to alter the sounds of instruments, such as artifical echo
embouchure
The manner in which one must form the mouth in order to play a wind instrument
energy music
See expressionism
ensemble
A group of musicians performing together
expression
Any of hundreds of different variables a musician can control when playing a note, including
dynamics and articulation
expressionism
A high energy form of music in which soloists stretch out over simple themes
extended effects
General term for any of a number of ways musicians can alter the sounds of their instruments,
such as removing a valve, plucking the strings inside the piano, and so forth
fall
A musical effect in which the pitch of a note is made to fall dramatically after the initial sounding
field holler
See work song
flat fifth
An interval consisting of six semitones, such as between C and F#. It is relatively dissonant and
gained notoriety through its use in bebop
flute
A woodwind instrument in which the sound is produced without a reed.
four-beat
A rhythm that emphasizes all four beats in a measure more or less equally
fours
A musical device in which to or more soloists take turns improvising four measure phrases.
Often, one of the musicians is the drummer.
free improvisation
Improvisation with no chord progression or other predetermined structure to guide the process
free jazz
Any form of jazz that uses free improvisation
freebop
A form of jazz that is similar to bebop but in which predetermined chord progressions are not
used to guide the improvisation
funk
Originally, jazz with a pronounced gospel influence. Later, a style of R&B music or jazz-rock

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fusion.
fusion
A hybrid of jazz and rock
Giant Steps changes
The chord progression of John Coltrane's "Giant Steps", or any pattern of rapid modulations by
major thirds. Coltrane and others have used this idea to harmonize a number of compositions.
gig
Term used by musicians to refer to a performance or other job
gospel
Music played in black Christian churches, usually ecstatic in nature
groove
An underlying pattern behind a musical performance, consisting of a rhythmic component and
perhaps a melodic riff as well. The term implies danceability.
group improvisation
Several musicians improvising at once
growl
A musical effect in which the player vocalizes through his instrument to emulate a growl
guitar
A stringed instrument capable of playing chords as well as melodies
hard bop
A form of jazz related to bebop but with a stronger gospel influence
harmolodics
The theory that melody, harmony, and rhythm should be of equal importance in collective
improvisation. In harmolodics, any musician might be responsible for any of these roles at any
time. The term was coined by Ornette Coleman to describe his approach to music.
harmony
The perception of notes sounded at once. The term often refers to the chords that underlie a
melody, or to the theory that underlies the construction of these chords
head
The composed theme or themes in a composition
head arrangement
A simple arrangement in which the ensemble plays the head, then takes turns soloing over the
chord progression, then plays the head again
horn
Literally, a brass instrument, but commonly used by jazz musicians to refer to any wind
instrument, and occassionally other instruments as well
hot
An excited mood
impressionism
A form of jazz involving collective improvisation in which the musicians often forego their
standard ensemble roles and instead contribute whatever the music seems to need in the moment
improvisation
The act of creating music that has not been predetermined. This term often refers specifically to

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the act of playing new melodic lines as part of a solo.

interlude
Any musical passage that occurs between choruses in an arrangement, whether between the head
and the first solo, within a solo, between solos, or between the last solo and the return to the head
interpolation
The act of playing a phrase taken from another composition or well-known improvisation within
the context of one's own improvisation. Also known as quoting.
intro
See introduction
introduction
A musical passage played before the first statement of the primary theme
jazz
A genre of music that is the subject of this program. While no simple definition exists for jazz,
the most important elements of jazz are often said to be swing and improvisation.
key
See key center
key center
The scale that underlies the composition. The term often refers specifically to the note at the root
of this scale. This note is the one toward which the other notes and chords seem to be leading.
kick
A composed phrase that is played in rhythmic unison by the accompanying instruments behind a
melody, whether composed or improvised
Latin jazz
A hybrid of jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythms
lay out
To not play. Generally refers to rhythm section players choosing to not play accompaniment for a
chorus or two.
lead sheet
A written representation of the theme and the accompanying chords for a composition. This is all
that is required in order to play a head arrangement.
lick
A phrase that an improvisor has practiced for use in improvisation, or one that sounds practiced
long form
A composition that contains multiple themes interspersed with solo sections, interludes, or other
passages
major chord
A chord consisting of a root and notes a major third and perfect fifth above the root, such as C, E,
G
major key
A key center corresponding to a major scale
major scale
A series of notes consisting of whole steps and half steps in the ascending pattern
WWHWWWH, such as C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C

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marimba
A pitched percussion instrument consisting of wooden bars struck by a mallet
melody
The perception of notes sounded one at a time; a series of pitches intended to be heard in
succession. The melody is the part of a composition that one might sing.
minimalism
A deliberate reduction in complexity of melody, harmony, or rhythm, often involving repetition
modal
A system of harmony in which the chords do not relate to any specific key center. Each new
chord seems to come from a different key and suggest the use of a different scale.
modulation
A transition from one key center to another
mute
A small device inserted into the bell of a brass instrument to alter the timbre of the sound
produced
neoclassicism
An effort to faithfully recreate elements of an earlier style
New Age music
A genre of meditative music that may involve improvisation
New Orleans jazz
A style of traditional jazz that emphasizes collective improvisation and two-beat rhythms
non-idiomatic improvisation
A manner of improvisation in which no concessions are made to the conventions any specific
style
nonet
A nine piece ensemble
octet
An eight piece ensemble
offbeat
The second "half" of a beat (which might actually be shorter than half a beat in a swing rhythm)
organ
A keyboard instrument in which sounds are generated by air blowing through pipes or reeds, or
an electronic simulation of such an instrument
paragraph
See stanza
pastiche
A combination of styles in which the component parts are left whole, such as a medley
percussion
A family of instruments in which sound is produced by striking the instrument
phrase
A self-contained portion of melody, such as what would correspond to one line of lyrics
piano
A stringed keyboard instrument that is considered to be a member of the percussion family

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because the sound is produced by hammers that strikes the strings

postmodernism
A style of music that consciously draws from elements of other styles
pulse
The beat; the rhythmic pattern underlying a groove
pulse track
A structure invented by Anthony Braxton to organize accompaniment. A pulse track consists of
shape notations that specify the outline of the accompaniment on a beat by beat basis.
quartet
An ensemble of four musicians
quintet
An ensemble of five musicians
quote
The act of playing a phrase taken from another composition or well-known improvisation within
the context of one's own improvisation. Also known as interpolation.
ragtime
A form of music, usually composed for the piano, that combines European harmonies with
syncopated rhythms
release
The absence of tension
restructuralism
The act of breaking convention to create new structures
rhythm
The perception of sounds heard with respect to time. The term often implies a regular division of
time that serves as the "beat", and all other sounds are heard relative to the beat.
rhythm changes
The chord progression of George Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm", which has been used a basis for
hundreds if not thousands of other composition and is seen as a basic rite of passage for
improvisors
rhythm section
A subset of an ensemble that is primary reponsible for providing accompaniment. It typically
consists of piano or guitar, bass, and drums.
riff
A repeated melodic phrase
root
The defining note of a chord
salsa
Latin jazz; particularly music that favors the Afro-Cuban elements
saxophone
A family of woodwind instruments with a conical bore that produce sound by a vibrating reed.
They are usually curved and made of brass.
scale
A series of notes in a pattern of steps

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scat
Improvised vocals using nonsense syllables
score
A written arrangement, particularly one that specifies parts for several instruments
section
A group of related instruments in an ensemble, such as a saxophone section or trombone section
septet
A seven piece ensemble
sextet
A six piece ensemble
shake
A musical effect in which the pitch of a note is made to rise and fall rapidly
shout chorus
A passage in a big band arrangement in which the melody instruments play a line (usually highly
syncopated) in rhythmic unison. A shout chorus usually serves as an interlude between the head
and solos.
shuffle
A four-beat rhythm with a very exaggerated sense of swing
sideman
A member of an ensemble who is not the leader
smooth jazz
A term used by some radio stations and critics to refer to a fusion of jazz and "pop" music
solo
A passage in which one musician improvises new melodies, usually with the accompaniment of a
rhythm section
song form
A thirty-two measure head consisting of two related themes, denoted "A" and "B", in the pattern
AABA. This was a very popular form for popular songs and show tunes during the first half of
the 20th century.
soprano saxophone
A woodwind instrument of the saxophone family, pitched higher than the alto. It is most
commonly found in a straight form.
soul jazz
Hard bop with an even stronger gospel influence.
splat
A musical effect in which a note is played with no definite pitch
stanza
A phrase and the successive phrases that relate to it through repetition, variation, call and
response, or other devices
stop time
A musical device in which the rhythm section ceases to outline the pulse and instead plays only
on the downbeats of successive measures, in order to provide more room for the soloist
straight eighth notes

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Eighth notes in which each note takes exactly half a beat. These are the standard eighth notes in
classical music.
stride
A style of piano jazz in which the left hand plays alternating bass notes and chord voicings in a
steady pattern
string bass
See acoustic bass
stroll
See lay out
style
Elements common to a number musical performances that identify them as being related
sweet
A mood that conveys romance
swing
A style of jazz that relies on four-beat rhythms, or the pulse that underlies this music
swing eighth notes
Eighth notes in which the first "half" of each beat is prolonged. The exact ratio depends on style,
tempo, and personal preference
tailgate
A style of trombone playing that combines counterpoint and bass roles; common in traditional
(New Orleans / Chicago) jazz
tambourine
A hand drum that often includes small cymbals that shake when the instrument is struck
tempo
The number of beats per minute
tenor saxophone
A woodwind instrument of the saxophone family, pitched higher than the baritone but lower than
the alto
tension
An unstable state in music. It is most commonly thought of in terms of harmonic dissonance but
may come from many different sources.
theme
A composed melody in a composition.
third stream
A style of music that combines jazz and European classic influences
timbales
A type of drum that is prominent in Afro-Cuban music
timbre
The type of sound produced by an instrument or voice
tonal
Harmony in which chords serve in a well-defined relationship to a key center
tone
See timbre

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tonic
The defining note of a scale or key center
traditional jazz
Styles of jazz that were popular at the beginning of the era of recorded jazz. The term includes
both New Orleans and Chicago styles.
trap set
See drum set
triangle
A percussion instrument consisting of a metal bar shaped into a triangle and struck with a stick
trio
An ensemble of three musicians
trombone
A brass instrument in which the pitch is determined in part by a slide that changes the effective
length of the tubing. The instrument is pitched lower than the trumpet.
trumpet
A brass instrument consisting of a fairly complex network of curved piping. Valves control the
effective length of the tubing, and thus the pitch. The instrument is pitched higher than the
trombone.
tuba
A very low pitched brass instrument that uses valves to control the pitch.
two-beat
A rhythm in which the first and third beats of a measure are emphasized over the second and
fourth
unit structure
Term used by Cecil Taylor to describe the manner in which melodic or rhythmic fragments serve
as a basis for improvisation in his music
vamp
A short sequence of chords that is repeated over and over again
verse
An introduction to a show tune that serves as a transition between the dialogue and the song form
vibraharp
See vibraphone
vibraphone
A pitched percussion instrument in which metal bars are struck by mallets and tubular resonators
help to amplify the sound. The resonators contain rotating disks that create vibrato.
vibrato
A slight wavering in pitch
violin
A stringed instrument in which strings are drawn with a box or plucked in order to produce sound
vocalese
A technique in which lyrics are written for an existing recorded solo
walking
A bass line that consists mostly of quarter notes to outline the pulse

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West coast jazz

Cool jazz, particularly performances that create harmony through counterpoint among melody
instruments as opposed to the use of chordal instruments
woodwind
A family of wind instruments in which the vibrations that cause sound occur on or within the
instrument
work song
A song used by black American slaves

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