Musical Terms For Reading Music
On Bass

Bass Clef

Time Signature

The top figure on the stave indicates the number of beats per bar.

4 quarter beats per bar

The lower number on the stave tells you the type of beats in each bar.

Notes

Play the dotted note slightly shorter in duration.                                                              Play the note with an accent.

Play the dotted note slightly shorter in duration and with an accent.

Crescendo

Crescendo = gradually get louder                                                              Decrescendo = gradually get softer

Repeats

Repeat the previous bar.

Repeat the previous 2 bars.

Repeat the previous bars by the number indicated above the sign. (four bold slashes with a dot either side)

Tie

A Tie is a curved line that joins two notes together of the same pitch, the note is held for the time duration of all the notes combined.

Palm Mute

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 play in the same style throughout the next section of music.

X Note

x note symbol means to play each individual note indicated only with a palm mute.

Slide

Slide means to make a smooth continuous melodic connection from the first note to the next on the same string.

Glissando

Glissando / means
make a smooth chromatic connection
from the first note to the next
(not always on the same string)

HO

HO means hammer on the next note with the fretting finger only.
ho means the same thing and is used to create visual space on the score.