Glossary
In alphabetic order

Ascending scale: a scale which starts with a low string and finishes on higher string (e.g. string ⑥ to string ①).

 

Barre: a method of playing, in which the index finger or other finger of the left hand simultaneously presses several strings. This permits the production of barred chords on 3, 4, 5 or 6 strings which do not use an open string. The chords are moveable along the entire fingerboard, and unlike basic chords, are transposable.

 

Binary pulsation: pulsation which can be divided by a multiple of 2, 4, 8, etc.

 

Cross-rhythm: a specific form of polyrhythm, resulting from two or more rhythms with different pulses, whose meters are in a permanent state of contradiction.

 

Cycle: see sequence.

 

Descending scale: a scale which starts on a higher string and finishes on lower string (eg. string ① to string ⑥).
In this method, the terms ascending and descending describe the direction of the real pitch of the notes.

 

Double pull-off: descending slur performed simultaneously on two strings.

 

Double-note hammer-on: ascending slurs performed simultaneously on two strings with two fingers.

 

Free stroke (“tirando”): a method of plucking used in classical guitar and flamenco guitar. “Tirando” is Spanish for “pulling”, termed in English as a free stroke. After plucking, the finger does not touch the string that is next lowest in pitch on the guitar, as it does with a rest stroke.

 

Full plant: refers to a finger involved in an arpeggio (excluding “p” after the pattern has begun) which is planted simultaneously while the previous finger (in the arpeggio order) plays the string. In the case of a “p – i – m – a” arpeggio, “i” is planted simultaneously when “p” plays, “m” is planted simultaneously when “i” plays, “a” is planted simultaneously when “m” plays, and so on. Focus on the use of simultaneous push-pull movements when practicing full planting.

 

Hammer-on: a technique performed only by the left hand which binds two or more notes (on one string or more), in an upward movement.

 

Notation of the left-hand fingers
1 index
2 major
3 ring
4 atrial

 

Notation of the right-hand fingers
p thumb
i index
m major
a ring

 

Pull-off: a descending slur, which technically is performed by the left hand, binding two or more notes in a downward movement.
In the case of a pull-off (e.g. between two notes), two fingers are placed on the handle. The first note is executed with both hands, the second, only by the left hand. The affected finger pulls the string while simultaneously lifting away from the fingerboard in order to produce the real note.

 

Push-lift, push-pull: (left hand or right hand) simultaneous movements of the fingers (or hands), e.g.: one finger (or hand) pushes while the other performs the opposite movement (lifting or pulling).

 

Push:
Left hand: a vertical movement of the finger, which serves to press the string to the fingerboard.
Right hand: the movement of the finger which serves to touch the string prior to plucking.

 

Rest stroke (or “apoyando”): a method of plucking used in both classical guitar and flamenco guitar. (The direct translation of “apoyando” is “supporting”). The “rest stroke” is so called because after plucking the string, the finger rests on the adjacent string after following through, giving a slightly rounder, often punchier sound (contrary to the free stroke).

Important
Practice rest stroke and free stroke movements while keeping “p” on the next lower adjacent (neighboring) string. For instance, if playing on the second string, “p” can be fixed on the third (or on the lower) string. Right hand position must not change while switching from rest stroke to free stroke movements or vice versa.

 

Sequence: a series of notes or elements, which may occur in a pre-established order or in a loop.

 

Sequential plant: refers to planting fingers one at a time (including “p”).
In the case of a “p – i – m – a” arpeggio, first “p” is planted, and then played, followed by “i” planted and then played, likewise for “m” and “a”.

 

String Notation
① first string
② second string
③ third string
④ fourth string
⑤ fifth string
⑥ sixth string

 

Ternary pulsation: pulsation which can be divided by a multiple of 3, 6, 9, etc.