Guitar Dictionary | A-Z
- F-Hole
A sound hole that is F-shaped. Found on semi-acoustic guitars.
- Face
The top/front surface of an acoustic guitar body.
Synonymous With: Top, Soundboard, Top Plate
- Fade In
Where volume is gradually increased until desired volume is reached.
- Fade Out
A gradual decrease in volume.
- False Note
A note that has been muted to the point it has no discernible pitch. In the context of guitar music this would be a mute performed with the fretting hand, as palm muted notes still have a distinctive pitch.
Synonymous With: Dead Note, Ghost Note
See Also: Fret Hand Muting, Fretting Hand, Palm Muting
- Fan Strutting
Wooden supports found under the soundboard of an acoustic guitar. Referred to as fan strutting because the struts radiate out from a central point just like a fan.
- Feedback
A high pitch sound created by the amplification of a guitars own sound. It is the result of putting the guitar to close to the amp.
- Fifth
- The fifth degree of a scale.
- The interval between the first and fifth note of a diatonic scale. This interval can be perfect (7 semitones), diminished (6 semitones) or augmented (8 semitones).
Full Article on: intervals
- Fifth Fret Trick
A method of relative tuning. It involves tuning the low E-string (by ear if necessary) and then using the 5th fret (A) to tune the adjacent string (the A-string). The same process is done for the rest of the strings with exception to the G-string, on which the 4th fret is held to find harmony with the b-string.
Full Article on: tuning your guitar
- Figure
The naturally occurring grain pattern on the surface of wood that gives each acoustic guitar a unique character.
- Fill
A small section of music used to connect larger sections. In guitar there are rhythm fills and lead fills.
- Filtering
The removal of unwanted elements of an electrical signal. Filtering can be used to create a cleaner sound for recording purposes or to create a specific effect.
- Fine-Tuners
Tuners found on the bridge of guitars with a locking tremolo system. The tuning is done with the machineheads as usual then the nut locks are put in place. The fine-tuners are then used to make any tiny adjustments to avoid having to remove the nut locks.
- Finger Numbering
Used for the fretting hand. Each finger is assigned a number from 1-4. 1 = index finger 2 = middle finger 3 = ring finger 4 = little finger T = thumb
Full Article on: hand labelling
- Fingerboard
A fingerboard is the surface on which the strings of a fretless stringed instrument are pressed against. Although, in a guitar context it can mean the same as fretboard.
- Fingering
Applying the pressure on the strings at a certain fret in order to sound a note.
Synonymous With: Fretting
- Finish
A thin coating of decorative material found on the surface of wooden components of a guitar.
- Five-Way Switch
A pickup selector switch that has five positions and therefore five combinations of pickups that can be used. Commonly found on guitars with three single coil pickups.
- Fixed Bridge
A bridge that stays static but can move when the vibrato system is used.
- Flanger
A guitar effect that creates a consistent wave-like space age whooshing effect, achieved by variable delay and filtering the signal.
- Flat
A semitone lower, notated by the symbol b.
- Flat Pick
The original term for plectrum, a small, thin object used for plucking or strumming the strings.
Synonymous With: Pick, Plectrum
Full Article on: how to hold a plectrum
- Flat Picking
Playing with a flat pick.
- Flat Top
An acoustic guitar where the soundboard is completely flat.
- Flatted
Made a semitone lower.
- Floating Bridge
A bridge used in the Floyd Rose locking tremolo system that can move in accordance with the tension of the strings (as opposed to a static bridge). It enables an easy and accurate vibrato system but makes tuning more difficult.
- Floyd Rose
- The man who invented the double locking tremolo system.
- Floyd rose has also become the name of this type of vibrato system.
- Floyd Rose Tremolo System
A type of tremolo system patented by Floyd Rose that involves a flexible floating bridge that responds smoothly to the vibrato bar. It is sometimes called the 'double-locking' system because the strings are locked at the bridge and the nut using nut locks. Every time you alter the tension on any of the strings the floating bridge moves and puts the other strings out of tune. This leaves you having to tune your guitar twice before attaching the nut locks, making tuning difficult.
Synonymous With: Floyd Rose Vibrato System, Double-Locking System, Double-Locking Vibrato System, Locking Vibrato System, Locking Tremolo System
- Floyd Rose Vibrato System
A type of tremolo system patented by Floyd Rose that involves a flexible floating bridge that responds smoothly to the vibrato bar. It is sometimes called the 'double-locking' system because the strings are locked at the bridge and the nut using nut locks. Every time you alter the tension on any of the strings the floating bridge moves and puts the other strings out of tune. This leaves you having to tune your guitar twice before attaching the nut locks, making tuning difficult.
Synonymous With: Floyd Rose Tremolo System, Double-Locking System, Double-Locking Vibrato System, Locking Vibrato System, Locking Tremolo System
- Footswitch
A pedal that you step on to activate electrical devices/settings. They are used with amps and effects units to enable you to operate them whilst standing up.
- Frequency
Acoustical frequency is the number of sound vibrations per second, measured in Hertz (Hz). Frequency represents the pitch of sound, 440Hz is concert pitch.
- Fret
- The space on the fretboard between each fret bar. Each numbered from the nut upward, starting on fret one. Open strings are referred to as fret 0.
- Sometimes used as another term for fret bar.
Synonymous With: Fret Bar
- Fret Bars
The strips of metal found along the fingerboard. The space immediately behind the fret bar is used for fretting (not directly over the bar). Fret bars are placed at set intervals to divide the string into pitches. The frets get closer together as you ascend the fretboard; this is because every time you halve the length you raise the pitch by an octave. Fret 12 divides the string in half (raising the pitch by an octave) and fret 24 divides the string into a quarter (raising the pitch by another octave).
- Fret Hand
The hand that applies pressure to the fretboard.
Synonymous With: Fretting Hand
Full Article on: hand labelling
- Fret Hand Muting
Using the fretting hand touch the strings to mute them (stop them from sounding) when you pluck/strum, creating a more percussive sound.
Synonymous With: Muted Strum, Rhythm Click, Chucking
Full Article on: fret hand muting
- Fret Markers
Inlays that are usually found at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 19th and 21st frets and provide an easy way of tracking down the fret your are looking for.
- Fret Numbers
Numbers assigned to each of the frets to allow them to be denoted in tablature.
- Fretboard
The long thin strip of dark hardwood (rosewood or ebony for example) on the surface of the neck, on which the fret bars are placed.
Full Article on: anatomy of the guitar
- Fretless
Refers to fretboards that have no metal strips to mark off separate pitches. The result is a fretboard with a continuous scale of pitches. Usually only bass guitars are fretless.
- Frets
- The spaces on the fretboard between each fret bar. Each numbered from the nut upward, starting on fret one. Open strings are referred to as fret 0.
- Sometimes used as another term for fret bars.
- Fretting
Applying the pressure on the strings at a certain fret in order to sound a note.
Synonymous With: Fingering
- Fretting Hand
The hand that applies pressure to the fretboard.
Synonymous With: Fret Hand
Full Article on: hand labelling
- Full Bend
A technique where the string is bent until the pitch is one tone higher (equal to two frets higher).
Synonymous With: Whole Bend
- Fuzz
Very dirty sound.
See Also: Dirty