lead guitar
Band's solo voice
Lead guitar is the guitar part in a band that plays melody lines, solos, and riffs rather than rhythm and chords.
The lead guitarist typically handles instrumental breaks and flashy passages: She shreds on lead guitar.
Distinguished from rhythm guitar, which provides harmonic foundation and keeps time.
Curved catching device
- riffRepeated musical phrase
- lickPass tongue over
- motifRecurring thematic element
- themeCentral recurring concept
phrase · countermelody · harmony · octave · scale · interval · pentatonic · blues scale
Spontaneous, unplanned creation
- phrasingManner of expressing something
- lickPass tongue over
- runMove swiftly on foot
- climaxPoint of greatest intensity
spotlight · cadenza · call-and-response · breaks · buildup · resolution · showpiece · virtuoso
Stringed instrument's neck face
- pickupsOpen-bed work vehicles
- amplifierSignal-strengthening electronic device
- whammy barLever altering string tension
- headstockTuning peg mounting point
bridge · tuning pegs · volume knob · nut · frets · humbucker · solid-body · semi-hollow
Repeated light striking
- hammer-onFret note without picking
- pull-offAccomplish something difficult
- bendingCurving from straight
- vibratoOscillating pitch effect
legato · staccato · fingerstyle · picking · palm muting · harmonics · glissando · slide
Raised performance platform
- spotlightConcentrated illumination source
- concertLive musical performance
- gigShort-term paid work
- bandGroup playing music together
frontman · rockstar · crowd · arena · pedals · pedalboard · distortion · feedback
Rate of motion
- arpeggiosChord notes played individually
- virtuosoSupremely accomplished performer
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
- fastSpeedy, or skip eating
metal · neoclassical · chromatics · pyrotechnics · shredder · technical · blinding · frenetic
hook
Curved catching device
theme · phrase · countermelody · harmony · octave · scale · interval · pentatonic · blues scale · modal
improvisation
Spontaneous, unplanned creation
climax · spotlight · cadenza · call-and-response · breaks · buildup · resolution · showpiece · virtuoso · expression
fretboard
Stringed instrument's neck face
- pickupsOpen-bed work vehicles
- amplifierSignal-strengthening electronic device
- whammy barLever altering string tension
headstock · bridge · tuning pegs · volume knob · nut · frets · humbucker · solid-body · semi-hollow · luthier
tapping
Repeated light striking
- hammer-onFret note without picking
- pull-offAccomplish something difficult
- bendingCurving from straight
vibrato · legato · staccato · fingerstyle · picking · palm muting · harmonics · glissando · slide · fretting
stage
Raised performance platform
band · frontman · rockstar · crowd · arena · pedals · pedalboard · distortion · feedback · monitor
speed
Rate of motion
- arpeggiosChord notes played individually
- virtuosoSupremely accomplished performer
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
fast · metal · neoclassical · chromatics · pyrotechnics · shredder · technical · blinding · frenetic · Van Halen
- band geardrums, drum kit, keyboard, synthesizer, bass
- BluesB.B. King, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, twelve bar blues, delta blues
- Guitarfret, frets, neck, body, headstock
- Heavy MetalMetallica, Megadeth, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden
- folk instrumentsbanjo, bodhrán, mandolin, harmonica, fiddle
- jam sessionsjam band, blues jam, bluegrass jam, open mic, drum circle
lead guitarrhythm guitar
Chordal strumming for support
rhythm section · bass guitar · bass · drums · accompaniment
lead guitarbackground music
Audio meant to accompany
accompaniment · rhythm section · backing track · rhythm guitar · backing
lead, guitar, guitars, guitarist, guitarists, electric guitar, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, guitarlike