Music Glossary

Music Glossary

Master the language of music & the music industry. Our Music Glossary defines 1,070+ terms used in music theory, production, business, legal, acoustics, and tech. From Absorption to Zero Level, each entry helps you understand conversations, and negotiate smarter in your career. Browse alphabetically. Grow your musical fluency one term at a time.
Feed Your Head - Music Glossary
Facebook
X
Pinterest
LinkedIn
Mix
Reddit
Threads
Email

Music Glossary Navigation

Find the meanings of 1070+ music and music related terms and concepts in this broad-ranging music industry reference. As a result, this glossary covers a large diversity of Music related terminology. You will find terms for the Music Business, Music Technology, Music Theory, alongside Music Law, Acoustics, and Electronics. The Songstuff Music Glossary is a dynamic and ever-growing collection. Everything from Absorption to Zero Level.

Getting started in the music industry, or even getting involved in a new area of the music industry can be frustrating and confusing. If you want to take advantage of any opportunity that comes your way an understanding of potential benefits and pitfalls, will help you to be taken seriously by those you meet. At least within a music business context. Being able to respond in an appropriate way (without signalling “I know very little, please take advantage of my lack of knowledge”) is essential. That starts with understanding concepts and speaking the same language.

Music Glossary - Massive 1070+ Music industry Terms
Music Glossary - Massive 1070+ Music industry Terms

In other words, it is critical that you both know and understand key music industry words, phrases and concepts.

You cannot afford to miss the implications of a phrase. It isn’t wise to rely entirely upon the knowledge and understanding of others to highlight when terms are unfavorable to you, or when you could get more from a negotiation than you have.

Artist/Band - Songstuff Music Community Join

To survive is not enough. You need to thrive in the music industry. To achieve that starts with understanding what people are talking about when they use common music industry terms, and being able to take part in the conversation.

Music Industry Buzzwords

Our music industry glossary is a great introduction to music industry terms and terminology. It is also a highly useful and growing reference companion. One that you can keep using as your music career grows and expands to take in new areas. In no time you will be dropping key music industry buzz words into the conversations and using them correctly!

We’re continually adding new descriptions, so if you have a suggested description please Contact Songstuff.

Glossary items are listed in alphabetical order. Please use the navigation block below to browse the glossary items.

Making Suggestions

All suggestions are very welcome. We ask that when you suggest a term, you also suggest a description for that term. As a regular contributor, we ask that you follow the instructions on becoming a contributor set out below. You are also welcome to make suggestions in our music community forums.

Artist/Band - Songstuff Music Community Join

Music Glossary Navigation

Useful Links

Check out our library of music articles and tutorials:

You can discuss music creation, performance, music production, music marketing and promotion, how to release and market your music, and how to build your fan base in the Songstuff Music Community.

Social media is great to connect with fans, and pretty good for meeting other artists, but it isn’t the greatest for conversations. It’s too easy to mix your audience and go nowhere fast.

Take a new, positive step. Come and join us:

Or, log in:

Useful Community Topics To Read

Useful Boards

Songstuff Music Community
Join the Songstuff Music Community and take your music to the next level! Get invaluable advice, and awesome resources, and connect with like-minded creators. Whether you’re an artist, songwriter, music producer, or singer, we’re here to help you grow, collaborate, and succeed. Your music journey starts here—join us now!
Songstuff Music Community
Join the Songstuff Music Community and take your music to the next level! Get invaluable advice, and awesome resources, and connect with like-minded creators. Whether you’re an artist, songwriter, music producer, or singer, we’re here to help you grow, collaborate, and succeed. Your music journey starts here—join us now!

Songstuff Glossary Contributors

Contributors Wanted

Do you have experience in one of the areas that we cover? Would you be willing and interested in contributing missing entries to our glossary? Please help musicians to build their skills and understanding by contributing definitions to the Songstuff music glossary.

We rely on musicians and people working within the music industry, who are willing to contribute to our knowledge base.

Please contact us and we can explore the possibility of you joining our contributors asap.

Songstuff Media Player

If you would like to listen to some awesome indie music while you browse, just open our media player. It opens in another window (or tab) so your playlist can play uninterrupted as you browse.

Open the Songstuff Media Player.

Playlists are curated by SsUK for the Independent Music Stage and Songstuff.