Magic Henry’s Music Notes
Musical Terms For Reading Music
Have fun jamming along with the band and improving your ability to read music at the same time, using this introductory guide covering the basics – Henry
Treble Clef
![](http://www.jamminplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Trebblecleffguit.jpg)
Time Signature
The top figure indicates the number of beats per bar.
![](http://www.jamminplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/44.jpg)
The lower number tells you the type of beats in each bar.
4 quarter beats per bar
Notes
![](http://www.jamminplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/guitar2notes.jpg)
Play the dotted note slightly shorter in duration…. play the note with an accent.
![](http://www.jamminplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/guitar4dots.jpg)
Play the dotted note slightly shorter in duration and with an accent.
Crescendo
![](http://www.jamminplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/guitar5cressendo.jpg)
Crescendo = gradually get louder Decrescendo = gradually get softer
Octave
![](http://www.jamminplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/octaveguit.jpg)
Play notes a octave higher than written on the stave.
Repeats
![](http://www.jamminplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/musicff.jpg)
Repeat the previous bar.
![](http://www.jamminplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/repeat2.jpg)
Repeat the previous 2 bars.
![](http://www.jamminplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/repeatnumber.jpg)
Repeat the previous bars by the number indicated above the sign. (four bold slashes with a dot either side)
Tie
![](http://www.jamminplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/tie.jpg)
![](http://www.jamminplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/tie2.jpg)
A Tie is a curved line that joins two notes together of the same pitch
Palm Mute
![](http://www.jamminplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/pm.jpg)
P.M = play each note with a palm mute
p.m. means the same thing and is used to create visual space on the score.
continue means to in play on in the same style throughout the next section of music.
X Note Symbol
![](http://www.jamminplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/xnotesymbol.jpg)
The x note symbol means to play only each individual note indicated with a palm mute.
Slide
![](http://www.jamminplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/slide.jpg)
Slide / means make a smooth continuous melodic connection from the first note to the next on the same string.
Glissando
![](http://www.jamminplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/gliss.jpg)
The Glissando symbol means make a smooth continuous melodic connection from the first note to the next (not always on the same string).
HO / Hammer on
![](http://www.jamminplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/ho.jpg)
The HO or hammer symbol means play the next note with the fretting finger only.
ho … means the same thing and is used to create visual space on the score.
Bend
![](http://www.jamminplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/guitarnew1.jpg)
Harmonic
![](http://www.jamminplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/harm.jpg)
Harm— | ….means play the harmonic
Pinched Harmonic
![](http://www.jamminplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/ph1.jpg)
Vibrato
![](http://www.jamminplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/ph-e1589538623446.jpg)
The elongated wavy line above the chord means vibrato the notes.
w/bar — | means create a vibrato using the guitar side bar.
The same effect can be created with a volume pedal.