0dB: In the measurement of sound pressure level (SPL), 0dB is referenced to the threshold of hearing or auditory perception of a tone of 1000 cycles (hertz) per second (1 KHz).

2/4: A time signature consisting of 2 quarter note beats per bar.

3/4: A time signature consisting of 3 quarter note beats per bar.

3/8: A compound time signature consisting of 1 dotted quarter note beat per bar (3 eighth note pulses).

4/4: A time signature consisting of 4 quarter note beats per bar.

5/4: A time signature consisting of 5 quarter note beats per bar.

6/4: A time signature consisting of 6 quarter note beats per bar.

6/8: A compound time signature consisting of 2 dotted quarter note beats per bar (6 eighth note pulses).

7/4: A time signature consisting of 7 quarter note beats per bar.

9/8: A compound time signature consisting of 3 dotted quarter note beats per bar (9 eighth note pulses).

12/8: A compound time signature consisting of 4 dotted quarter note beats per bar (12 eighth note pulses).

A tempo: A return to original speed.

Accelerando (accel.): Gradually getting faster.

Active Pickups: Pickups which have pre-amp circuitry attached to them to amplify the signal. They require a battery and add greater versatility to the sound as there are more opportunities to enhance the tone.

Adagio: Italian term describing a slow tempo (66 - 76 beats per minute).

Aeolian mode: A minor scale using the notes of the major scale beginning on the sixth note.

Allegro: Italian term describing a fast tempo (120 - 168 beats per minute).

Ampere: A unit of measurement of electrical current. They are normally called ‘amps’ and the symbol for them is a capital I.

Amplifier: A device capable of increasing the magnitude or power level of a voltage or current that is varying with time (frequency), without distorting the waveform of the signal. The incoming signal is far too weak to power a speaker system. The role of the amplifier is to take that weak signal and strengthen it to the necessary power level to operate the speakers with minimal distortion.

Andante: Italian term describing tempo at a moderate walking speed (76 - 108 beats per minute).

Arpeggio: The notes of a chord played individually.

Attenuation: The reduction in level of a signal.

Augmented: Raised or sharpened note. E.g. An augmented 5th in the key of C is G# instead of G.

Balanced Cable: A pair of wires surrounded by a braided shield.

Balanced Line: A transmission line consisting of two conductors plus a braided shield, capable of being operated so that the voltages of the two conductors are equal in magnitude (voltage) and opposite in polarity with respect to ground.

Bandwidth: Response characteristic in which a definite band of frequencies having a low frequency and high frequency limit are transmitted or amplified uniformly.

BPM: An abbreviation for "Beats per minute". Tempo is measured by how many crotchet (quarter note) beats occur every minute. The higher the number, the faster the piece of music is.

Bridge: A musical interlude which is usually the third section of a song. For this reason not all songs have a bridge.

Bridge: The plate to which the strings are anchored on the body of an instrument.

Bus: A conductor that serves as a common connector to several signal sources, always associated with a mix amplifier.

Cantabile: In a singing style.

Changes: Jazz terminology for a chord sequence.

Chord: Two or more notes played at the same time.

Chord tones: The notes belonging to a chord.

Chorus: The main part of a song based on the central melody, excluding any introductions, verses, interludes or endings.

Chromatic: Moving from one note to another note one semitone (fret) away. The chromatic scale is simply starting on a note and playing all twelve notes up to the octave of that note.

Circle of 5ths: A pattern which relates key signatures to each other according to their number of sharps and flats.

Clipping: Amplifier overload causing a squaring off or undesirable change in the wave form resulting in distortion or perceptible mutilation of audio signals.

Combo: An amplifier which has the speakers and amplifier all housed in the one unit.

Common Time: (also called 4/4 time) This time signature has 4 beats in every bar. It is called common time because it is used so frequently.

Comping: Abbreviation for accompaniment. This term was traditionally used to indicate chordal accompaniment, but is now used to indicate almost any accompaniment.

Compound interval: An interval beyond the octave.

Compound Time: A time signature where the beat falls on a dotted note which means each beat is divisible by three. To determine how many beats in a compound bar, divide the top number by three. E.g. 6/8 has two beats per bar.

Compression: Reduction of the effective gain of an amplifier at one level of signal with respect to the gain at a lower signal level.

Consonance: The harmonious quality of certain intervals and chords.

Crescendo: Getting louder.

Crotchet: A note lasting for one beat. Crotchets are often called "quarter notes".

Current: The rate of flow (measured in amperes (amps)) of electricity in a conductor or circuit. The symbol for this is a capital I.

Cut: The reduction in gain of a frequency or band of frequencies when equalizing an audio signal.

Da capo al fine (D.C. al fine): Go back to the beginning and play to "fine"..

dB (Decibel): A unit for measuring volume.

dBM: A decibel scale referenced to 0 dBM = 1 milliwatt into 600 ohms or 0.773 volts RMS.

dBV: A decibel scale referenced to 1 volt RMS; 0 dBV = 1 volt.

Decrescendo: Getting softer.

Demisemiquaver: A note which lasts for 1/8 of a crotchet (quarter note) beat which is also known as a 32nd note.

Detache: A bowing technique where each note has its own stroke. The bow is lifted off the string after each stroke creating a short rest.

Diatonic: The major scale and the theory which relates to all of the modes and chords which are derived from the major scale.

Diminished: A chord or scale containing the notes 1, b3, b5, bb7 (half diminished is 1, b3, b5, b7).

Dip: A reduction in gain at a certain frequency also called a notch.

Dissonance: The unharmonious quality of certain intervals and chords.

Dolce: Sweetly.

Dorian mode: A minor scale using the notes of the major scale beginning on the second note.

Dotted note: A note with a dot after it indicating that this note should last for one and a half times its normal duration.

Downbeat: A beat falling on the numbers of the time signature as opposed to an upbeat which falls in the space between these numbers. e.g. A downbeat in 4/4 time is a beat which occurs on either the first, second, third or fourth beats.

Downbow: A bow stroke starting at the frog end of the bow.

Enclosure: A technique used in jazz, where a target note, before being played, is preceded by one or more notes from both sides.

Enclosure: An acoustically designed housing or structure for a speaker.

Enharmonic: Of the same pitch. Some notes have different names but are said to be enharmonic equivalents as they have the same pitch. eg. C# and Db.

Feedback (Electronic): The return of a portion of the output of a circuit to its input.

Feedback (Acoustic): The regeneration of a signal from the output of a sound system into a microphone input.

Filter: An electrical or electronic device that permits certain frequencies to pass while obstructing others such as a crossover filter used with speakers.

Flat: Lower in pitch. On the bass guitar a flattened note is lowered by one fret.

Flatwound Strings: Strings where the outer wire windings are flat producing a smooth finish. Some players use them for their warm, jazz tone and on fretless basses to preserve the fingerboard from wear.

Forte (f): Dynamic marking for loud.

Fortissimo (ff): Dynamic marking for very loud.

Frequency: The number of vibrations or oscillations in units per second. This is measured in cycles or hertz per second and can be a measure of either an electrical signal or musical pitch.

Frog: A part on a bow which spaces the hair from the wood.

Full Range: The entire audio spectrum, 20 Hz - 20 KHz

Fusion: A combination of musical styles, usually jazz / rock or jazz / funk.

Gain: An increase in strength or amplitude of a signal. The increase in signal power that is produced by an amplifier; usually given as the ratio of output to input voltage, current, or power expressed in decibels.

Gauge: The thickness of an individual string or set of strings.

Grace notes: A very short note of undefined rhythmic value which usually precedes the target note.

Groove: The rhythmic "feel" of music.

Half diminished: A chord or scale containing the notes 1, b3, b5, b7 (diminished is 1, b3, b5, bb7).

Harmonics: High sounding notes which are singled out from the various overtones which are present in a normal note.

Head: Another name for an amplifier which is separate to the speakers.

Headroom: The difference between the average operating power level of an amplifier circuit and the point at which clipping or severe distortion occurs.

Hemidemisemiquaver: An extremely fast note which lasts for 1/16 of a crotchet (quarter note) beat. They are also known as a 64th notes.

Hertz (Hz): The frequency of a vibration or oscillation in units per second.

Impedance: The total opposition to alternating current flow presented by a circuit. Measured in ohms, impedance is commonly used to rate input and output characteristics of components so that a proper match can be made when connecting two or more devices, such as a microphone, speaker or amplifier.

Improvisation: Spontaneous creativity.

Inside: To improvise inside the harmonic structure of a song.

Interval: The distance between two notes.

Intonation: The pitch of a note, i.e. good intonation means to play in tune.

Inversion: A chord where the order of the notes is rearranged.

Ionian mode: Another name for the major scale.

Jack, plug or socket: A receptacle on a receiver, amplifier, bass, or other component into which a mating connector can be plugged.

Key (Key Signature): The tonal center of a song or part of a song.

Largo: Italian term describing a very slow and solemn tempo (40 - 66 beats per minute).

Leading note: A bass note played immediately before a chord change which leads into the new chord. If the chord progression is static then a leading note can still be used to enhance that stability.

Legato: To play smoothly without breaks.

Lento: Slow.

Locrian mode: A half diminished scale using the notes of the major scale beginning on the seventh.

Lydian mode: A major scale using the notes of the major scale beginning on the fourth.

Machine Head: (also called tuning peg) The geared peg which allows each string to be tuned by changing its tension.

Maestoso: Majestic.

Major: A chord is considered major unless stated otherwise. E.g. If the chord G is written it means G major.

Marcato: Marked and accented.

Master: Main level or gain control for a bus or mix.

Meno: Less.

Metronome: A device which plays crotchet beats at an adjustable tempo measured in beats per minute (BPM).

Mezzo forte (mf): Dynamic marking for medium loud.

Mezzo piano (mp): Dynamic marking for medium soft.

Minor: A lowered (flattened) third produces a minor chord. Notes can also be considered to be minor for the same reasons even if the entire chord is not played.

Mixolydian mode: A major scale using the notes of the major scale beginning on the fifth.

Modes: The seven scales which are constructed from the notes of the major scale.

Moderato: Italian term describing a tempo at a moderate speed (108 - 120 beats per minute).

Modulate: To change keys.

Molto: Very.

Nut: A plastic, brass or bone piece at the end of the fingerboard on an electric bass which creates the beginning of each string’s effective length. On a double bass the nut is made from wood (ebony).

Octave: An interval which is of the same name as the original note. E.g. Open E string to the E on the 7th fret on the A string.

Ohm: The unit of electrical resistance, equal to the resistance through which the current of one amp will flow when there is a potential difference of one volt across it. Ohm is the unit of measure used to express opposition to current flow. Every wire or part through which electricity passes has some resistance to that passage.

Outside: To improvise outside the harmonic structure of a song.

Overtone: When a normal note is played on the bass there are actually many different notes being produced which blend together as the one sound. These various notes or frequencies are called overtones.

Parallel: An electric circuit in which the elements or components are connected between two points with one of the two ends of each component connected to each point.

Passive Pickups: Pick ups which don’t require a battery unlike active pickups which use a battery for a built in pre-amp.

Perfect 4th: An interval where two notes are are a Perfect 4th apart. There are 5 semitones between two such notes.

Perfect 5th: An interval where two notes are are a Perfect 5th apart. There are 7 semitones between two such notes.

Phrygian mode: A minor scale using the notes of the major scale beginning on the third note.

Pianissimo (pp): Dynamic marking for very soft.

Piano (p): Dynamic marking for soft.

Pickups: An electro-magnetic device which ‘picks up’ the sound of your strings and converts it to an electrical signal which can then be amplified.

Pitch: The frequency of a note. Pitch is usually described in terms of its musical quality such as "A" rather than its scientific value such as 440Hz.

Poco: A little.

Pre-amp: An amplifier which basically shapes the sound before the power amp increases the volume.

Presto: Italian term describing a very fast tempo (168 - 208 beats per minute).

Quaver: A note lasting for half a beat. In 4/4 time a quaver is an eighth note.

Rallentando (rall.): Gradually getting slower.

Ravel scale: A scale using the notes 1, b2, b3, b4, b5, b6, b7, 8. This scale is also known as the "Super locrian", "Altered" or "Diminished Wholetone" scale.

Relative minor: Every major key has a minor key a major sixth above it which shares all of the same notes. eg. Amin is the relative minor of C.

Resistance: Opposition to the flow of electrical current measured in Ohms.

Rest-stroke: Resting a finger on an adjacent , lower-pitched string or against the thumb after striking a string.

Ritardando (ritard.): Gradually getting slower.

Ritenuto (rit.): Immediately getting slower.

RMS (Root mean square value): The square root of the time average of the square of a quantity; for a periodic quantity the average is taken over one complete cycle. RMS voltage is 0.717 times the peak voltage of a sine wave.

Root note: The principal note of a chord on which the chord is built. It is also the tonal center of the chord on which the chord is named. E.g. The root note of Gmaj7 is G.

Roundwound Strings: Strings where the outer winding is made from round wire. This is the most popular type of string as roundwounds have maximum tone.

Rubato: Freely.

Scale: A series of notes in ascending order from the root note to its octave.

Scale degree: Jazz standards are often notated in what are called scale degrees. These are written as Roman Numerals. For example, in the Key of C the C chord is I and the F chord is IV because F is the fourth note in the key of C.

Scale tones: The notes belonging to a scale.

Semitone: An interval of a half tone which is one fret on an electric bass.

Sempre: Always.

Sharp: Higher in pitch. On the bass guitar a sharpened note is raised by one fret.

Simple time: A time signature where the beat falls on undotted notes and is therefore divisible by two. Written as a time signature, the top number indicates the number of beats per bar and the bottom number indicates the value of each beat.

Slur: More than one note produced during the same bow stroke.

Sostenuto: Sustained.

Spiccato: Staccato achieved by bouncing the bow.

SPL (Sound pressure level): The level or intensity at a point in a sound field (loudness). The deviation above and below normal atmospheric pressure.

Staccato: To play in an abrupt, sharply detached manner.

Straight: The most common grouping of notes where the basic subdivision of notes is even.

Swing: The underlying feel of most blues and jazz music. Swing is based on playing the one and three of a triplet subdivision.

Syncopation: To accent upbeats instead of downbeats. Playing a note on this weaker (off/up) beat and holding it over to the stronger (on/down) beat gives the rhythm an anticipated feel.

Tempo: The speed of the music expressed as beats per minute (bpm).

Tenuto: To "lean into" a note giving it full value, emphasis and weight but not an accent.

Time signature: The basic feel of the song is determined by the time signature which consists of two numbers. The top number indicates the number of beats per bar and the bottom number indicates the value of each beat.

Tone: The qualities of a sound, also referred to as timbre.

Tone (Whole tone): An interval of a whole tone which is two frets on an electric bass.

Tonic: Tonal center.

Transpose: To change the key of a piece of music.

Triad: A triad is a three-note chord whose notes can be placed in consecutive major or minor thirds.

Trill: A rapid and regular fluctuation between a principal (written) note with the note alphabetically next above it (in the same key). For example A to B in any key containing those notes or A to Bb in any key containing those notes.

Triplets: A group of three notes played in the same time as two notes of the same kind.

Tritone: A b5th interval (three wholetones apart). E.g C to Gb.

Truss Rod: A metal rod which is sunken into the neck. This is adjustable using a small nut or allen key to change the action of the neck by flexing it back or forth.

Turnaround: A group of chords at the end of a chorus, which lead back to the beginning of the song.

Upbeat: A beat falling in between the numbers of the time signature as opposed to a downbeat which falls on these numbers. e.g. An upbeat in 4/4 time is a beat which occurs on the "and" between any of the first, second, third or fourth beats.

Upbow: A bow stroke starting at the tip end of the bow.

Verse: A secondary part of a song that usually precedes the chorus.

Vivace: Lively and spirited.

Whole tone: An interval of a whole tone which is two frets on an electric bass.