Pulse
Regular points in time that support the music. They stay even when several notes fall between them or when you briefly rest.
Brumlista.cz public reference
Music glossary
A short guide to the terms used in the lessons and trainers. On other pages, look for terms marked with the ⓘ icon to open these explanations.
Tempo
The speed of the pulse.
BPM
A numerical tempo value: the number of beats per minute.
Rhythm
The arrangement of sounds and rests in time in relation to the pulse.
Note value
The relative duration of a note or rest. A whole, half, quarter or eighth note is not fast or slow by itself; its duration depends on the tempo.
Rhythmic subdivision
Dividing one beat into equal smaller parts, for example two eighth notes or three triplet parts.
Metre
A regular way of grouping beats and accents, allowing music to be felt in groups such as three or four.
Bar
One recurring group of beats organised by the chosen metre.
Rest
An intentional space without a played sound. The pulse continues through the rest.
Pattern
A short repeatable arrangement of note values, strikes, rests or other layers.
Konnakol
Speaking rhythm with syllables. Here it is a practical aid for understanding and remembering a rhythm before playing it on the jaw harp.
Formant filtering
Shaping the sound colour with the tongue position and the mouth cavity, which also creates a sense of higher or deeper pitch. The five introductory targets are U [u], O [o], A [a], E [ɛ] and I [i], from the lowest to the highest perceived colour; they are pure vowel shapes, not English letter names or diphthongs.
Phrase
A complete musical passage with a recognisable beginning, development and ending.
Accent
An intentional emphasis on a selected strike or part of a rhythm.
Playing layer
One separately perceptible part of the playing, such as the pulse, strike, breath or a change in formant filtering.
Groove
The stable rhythmic character created by the interaction of pulse, repetition, accents and individual playing layers.
Reed
The flexible part of the jaw harp set in motion by the player's finger. It moves between the arms of the frame and produces a sound rich in overtones.
Strike
The finger movement that sets the jaw harp reed in motion. A light, precise strike lets the reed continue vibrating freely.
Vibration
A repeated back-and-forth movement. In a jaw harp, the reed vibrates and transfers energy to the frame and the surrounding air.
Fundamental
The lowest principal pitch of a jaw harp, determined by its construction and tuning. Changing the shape of the mouth emphasises higher components while the fundamental remains the same.
Frequency
The number of vibrations per second, measured in hertz (Hz). In sound, frequency is related to perceived pitch.
Tuning
The fundamental pitch assigned to an instrument. A jaw harp's tuning indicates which notes and other instruments it will combine with most easily.
Overtone
A higher component of sound above the fundamental. By changing the shape of the mouth, the player strengthens selected overtones and creates a melodic impression.
Resonance
The strengthening of vibration at frequencies to which an object or space responds well. The frame and the oral cavity both contribute to the resulting jaw harp sound.
Oral cavity
The space inside the mouth, shaped by the tongue, lips and jaw. When playing the jaw harp it acts as a variable resonator and emphasises selected overtones.
Idiophone
A musical instrument whose sound is produced by the vibration of the instrument's own material rather than a string or membrane. The jaw harp is a plucked idiophone.