Instrumental technique & performance
Instrumental technique & performance
Instrumental techiques
STRINGS
Pizzicato (plucked) - A way of pulling and releasing the string (plucked) quickly on a string instrument to produce the sound.
Arco (bowed) - The instruction for string players to play their instruments using the bow.
Double stopping
When a string instrument plays two notes at the same time.
Tremolo
Rapid bowing on a string instrument to produce a dramatic effect.
STRINGS and BRASS
Muted
A ‘muted’ effect is achieved when mutes are used to dampen or quieten the sound of string or brass instruments.
WOODWIND and BRASS
Tongued - A performance technique used by wind instruments to define different notes (i.e. separating notes by stopping the airflow with the tongue).
Slurred - An instruction for the music to be played smoothly (do not tongue).
Pop/Rock group
Small ensemble that performs rock/pop music. A common line-up would be lead guitar, rhythm guitar (one or both also doing vocals), bass guitar and a drummer.
Glossary: Peformance techniques
Syllabic - Vocal music where each syllable of the text has been set to a different note.
Melismatic - Vocal music where a syllable of the text has been set to a number of different notes.
Vibrato
A rapid, slight variation in pitch when singing or playing some musical instruments, which produces a stronger or richer tone.
Falsetto
Male vocal technique used to extend the voice into a higher range than usual.
Scat
A style of singing in jazz music that is improvised, and where the voice is used in imitation of an instrument (i.e. no words, or using nonsense words).
Rap
A type of pop music originating from the USA where the words are spoken quickly and rhythmically against an instrumental backing.
Divisi
The instruction in music for orchestral players reading the same musical staff to divide into two or more parts.
Hammer on
A performance technique for a string instrument with frets, such as the guitar. It occurs when the guitarist brings his finger down sharply on the fretboard (behind a fret), causing a note to sound. (This technique is the opposite of the ‘pull-off’, where the finger on the threat is released after the note has been struck.)
Slap bass
A performance technique for bass guitar (or double bass) by bouncing strings against the fretboard to achieve a ‘percussive’ sound.
Drum roll
A performance technique for drums that involves a rapid succession of beats. A drumroll is often used to build anticipation in the music.
Rim shot
A performance technique for percussion, when the sound is produced by hitting the rim and head of a drum with a drumstick at the same time.
Pitch bend
When a performer changes the pitch of the notes by a very small amount (e.g. using the facility on a synthesizer).