Glossary: Music Terms, Techniques & Slang for Beginners

Definition to most of the common music related terms you'll come across.

Find the definition to most of the common music related terms you’ll come across when learning how to play a musical instrument. Everything from A through Z.


Your Instructor


Samuel Ramos
Samuel Ramos

Hey there! I'm Samuel Ramos, and I've got a bit of a story to tell.

I've always had two big passions in life: education and music. I started my journey by getting my Bachelor's in Music Education from Antillean Adventist University, and then I thought, "Why stop there?" So I went on to Full Sail University for my Master's in Educational Media Design and Technology. It's been an amazing ride combining these two fields!

Over the years, I've worn quite a few hats. I've had the joy of teaching music and even served as an assistant professor of guitar at Inter-American University back in Puerto Rico. But you know me, I love to keep things interesting! I've also had some pretty cool gigs in the tech world. Would you believe I worked as a multimedia designer for Disney? Talk about a dream come true!

My adventures didn't stop there. I've been a digital learning designer at the University of St. Augustine in California, and I even got to be a senior instructional technologist at the University of San Diego. Oh, and I can't forget my time as an LMS Administrator and Instructional Designer for Taylor Guitars. It's been quite the journey!

One thing I'm really proud of is the books I've written. I've put together instructional guides for playing all sorts of instruments - the Puerto Rican cuatro, guitar, mandolin, you name it. It's my way of sharing my love for music with others.

But you know what really gets me excited? My website, 4jibaro.com. It's an online community I created to promote awareness of Puerto Rican folk music and heritage. It's my passion project, my way of keeping our beautiful culture alive and kicking.

At the end of the day, my big dream is to spread hope and joy through music. I truly believe we can change the world, one note at a time. It might sound cheesy, but hey, that's me! I'm just a guy who loves what he does and wants to make a difference. So, what do you think? Want to join me on this musical journey?