Barre
Using the index finger to press multiple strings across a single fret.
This allows movable chord shapes across the neck.

Barre chord
A chord formed by barring one fret and building the shape as if that fret were the nut.

Bass note
The lowest sounding note in a chord.
It appears as the chord name or after a slash, such as C/G or C.

Chromatics
All twelve notes found within one octave.
Seven naturals and five non naturals combine to form the full set.

Chord
Three or more notes played at the same time.
Most chords stack a root, third, and fifth.

Chordal interval
Three or more notes sounded together.
This forms the foundation of chords and harmony.

Circle of fifths
A visual tool that shows how keys relate to one another.
It helps with key signatures, chord movement, and modulation.

Closely related keys
The keys a fifth above and a fifth below a given key.
For G, those keys are C and D.

Diminished chord
A chord built from a minor third and a diminished fifth.
A D diminished chord contains D, F, and Ab.

Diminished fifth
An interval made of two whole steps and two half steps.
D to Ab is a clear example.

Dominant
The fifth note of the major scale.
Chords built here strongly pull back to the tonic.

Fifth
The distance from a note to another four scale tones above it.
It forms one of the most stable intervals in music.

Flat
A symbol that lowers a note by one half step.
Tuning flat means tuning down.

Fret
The metal strips across the neck of a guitar or bass.
Pressing between frets produces specific notes.

Half step
The smallest interval in Western music.
On guitar or bass, this equals one fret.

Harmonic interval
Two notes played at the same time.
This creates harmony rather than melody.

Interval
The measured distance between two notes.
It is defined by whole steps and half steps.

Inversion
A chord with a note other than the root in the bass.
A D chord with F# in the bass is an inversion.

Key
The tonal center of a piece of music.
It is named after its tonic note.

Leading
The natural pull one note or chord has toward another.
This motion shapes musical direction.

Leading tone
The seventh note of the major scale.
It sits one half step below the tonic and pulls upward.

Major
A scale or chord quality often heard as bright or upbeat.
It contains no flats in its basic form.

Major chord
A chord built from a major third and perfect fifth.
D major includes D, F#, and A.

Major scale
An eight note pattern using W W H W W W H.
A major follows this structure every time.

Major seventh
An interval of five whole steps and one half step.
D to C# forms a major seventh.

Major third
An interval made of two whole steps.
D to F# is a major third.

Melodic interval
A single note sounded alone.
Melody grows from these movements.

Minor
A scale or chord quality often heard as darker in tone.
It includes flats in its structure.

Minor chord
A chord built from a minor third and perfect fifth.
D minor contains D, F, and A.

Minor seventh
An interval of four whole steps and two half steps.
D to C is a minor seventh.

Minor third
An interval made of one whole step and one half step.
D to F forms a minor third.

Mode
A family of seven note scales.
Each mode shifts the tonal center of the same notes.

Modulate
To change from one key to another.
This adds contrast within a piece.

Muting
Lightly touching a string to stop it from sounding.
Muted strings appear as an x in chord diagrams.

Naturals
Notes without sharps or flats in their names.
They are A, B, C, D, E, F, and G.

Non naturals
Notes that include sharps or flats.
These five notes are often called accidentals.

Octave
The distance between a note and its next higher or lower match.
This spans twelve notes total.

Pentatonic
A scale built from five notes.
The name comes from five tones.

Perfect fifth
An interval of three whole steps and one half step.
D to A is a perfect fifth.

Position
The group of four frets under the hand at one time.
Each finger covers one fret.

Resolve
A musical movement that feels complete.
Resolution brings rest to tension.

Root
The note a chord is built from.
It defines the chord’s identity.

Root note
The central note of a key or scale.
Music naturally returns to this pitch.

Scale
A set of notes that work together.
Scales form the basis of melody and harmony.

Seventh
The distance from a note to another six scale tones above it.
This interval shapes tension and color.

Seventh chord
A chord that adds a seventh above the root.
D7 contains D, F#, A, and C.

Sharp
A symbol that raises a note by one half step.
Tuning sharp means tuning up.

Suspended chord
A chord that replaces the third with a second or fourth.
Common forms include sus2 and sus4.

Third
The distance from a note to another two scale tones above it.
This interval defines chord quality.

Tonic
The home note of a key.
Most progressions aim to return here.

Transpose
Moving music to a new key while keeping intervals intact.
C F G becomes G C D when transposed to G.

Whole step
An interval equal to two half steps.
On guitar or bass, this means skipping one fret.