Abbr on Folk Music: What Does It Mean?

When it comes to folk music, there are a lot of different terms that get thrown around. One of those terms is “abbr.” But what does it mean?

Abbreviations in Folk Music

One of the most interesting things about folk music is all of the abbreviations. From DADGAD to G7, there are a lot of them! Let’s take a look at a few of the most common abbreviations and what they mean.

What is an abbreviation?

In music, an abbreviation is a shortened or contracted form of a word or phrase. An abbreviation may be created from the initial letters of the words in a phrase (an initialism), such as “Sgt.” for “sergeant,” or from a word with parts removed (a contraction), such as “Mr.” for “mister.”

Abbreviations are commonly used in different areas of folk music, such as in instrumentation, song titles, and dance instructions. Below are some common abbreviations you might see in folk music.

Instrumentation:

Piano – pno
Violin – vln
Flute – fl
Clarinet – cl
Guitar – gtr
Bass – b
Mandolin – mdn or man
Banjo – bj

What are some common abbreviations in folk music?

Many different abbreviations are used in music all the time, especially in more technical or theoretical discussions of the craft. But there are also a few that come up specifically in folk and traditional music. If you’re a beginner, or even if you’ve been playing for a while, you might not be familiar with all of them. Here are some of the most common:

AAB – One of the most common structures in folk music, this three-part form features two similar sections followed by a third that contrasts with them. Think of “The House of the Rising Sun” or “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.”

BB – A binary form that simply features two contrasting sections. This is perhaps the simplest structure in all of music, and it’s found in everything from nursery rhymes to complex classical works.

Gyp – A type of fiddle tune commonly found in Old-Time and bluegrass music. It usually has a light, driving feel and is played at a fast tempo.

I/IV/V – The three chords that form the basis of most popular music. In Roman numerals, these would be represented as I, IV and V (one, four and five). In the key of C major, for example, these chords would be C major, F major and G major.

The Meaning of Abbreviations

In the world of folk music, there are a lot of abbreviations that are used. These abbreviations can be confusing to those who are not familiar with them. In this article, we will take a look at the meaning of some of the most common abbreviations used in folk music.

What do the abbreviations mean?

When you see abbr. on a piece of music, it means that the tempo (speed) should be played faster than what is written. This is common in folk music, and the abbreviation is often seen in sheet music for fiddle tunes.

The meaning of the abbreviation can vary depending on the context, but in general, it should be played at a slightly faster tempo.

How can I use them in my music?

Abbreviations are a quick way to communicate musical concepts. You will see them used in fake books, charts, and online. In this article we will define some of the most common abbreviations and how they can be used in your music.

Abbreviations you might see on a lead sheet:

chorus – The chorus is the main melody of a song. It is usually repeated multiple times throughout the song. In pop music, the chorus is often the hook of the song, or the part that gets stuck in your head.

verse – A verse is a section of a song that usually contains different lyrics than the chorus. Verses often set up the story or mood of a song and provide contrast to the more catchy chorus.

bridge – A bridge is a section of a song that provides contrast to the verse and chorus. Bridges are often used to build suspense or take the listener on a musical journey before resolving back to the chorus.

intro – An intro is a short section at the beginning of a song that may contain musical themes that are also present in other parts of the song. Intros can be used to establish mood, build tension, or introduce themes that will be developed later in the song.

Outro – An outro is similar to an intro but it occurs at the end of a song. Outros can be used to resolve any loose ends from the previous sections of the song, or they can simply be used as an extra chance to showcase one last musical idea.

Abbreviations you might see on a chord chart:

Cmaj7 – C major 7th: C-E-G-B (1-3-5-7) This chord is often just referred to as Cmaj7 or C Major 7th. Maj7 means major 7th interval above the root (in this case 1-7 is an octave). You could also see this written as CM7 or CMaj7. Dom7 refers to dominant 7th chords which are very common in blues, jazz, and rock music (more on dominant 7ths below). dim7 refers to diminished 7th chords which have a very unstable sound and are not as common in pop music (but you will see them occasionally). m7 refers to minor 7th chords (1-b3-5-b7) These are sometimes just called min7 chords

Abbreviations in Other Genres

Abbreviations are a necessary evil in all genres of music. They help to save space on festival and gig posters, and they can make it easier to find a band or artist you like. However, they can also be confusing, and sometimes they can mean different things in different genres. In this article, we’re going to take a look at some of the most common abbreviations in folk music.

What are some other genres that use abbreviations?

There are many genres of music that use abbreviations, especially in the titles of songs or albums. Here are a few examples:

Pop/rock:

-AC/DC: Aussie rockers known for their hits “Highway to Hell” and “Back in Black”
-AOR: Album-oriented rock, a term used in the 1970s to describe radio stations that played mostly album tracks instead of singles
-C&W: Country and western, a popular genre of music originating in the USA

Jazz:

-Dixieland: A style of jazz originating in New Orleans, characterized by a lively, improvisational feel
-ECM: European Cooperative Music, a German record label specializing in jazz and classical music
– bebop: A style of jazz characterized by fast tempos, intricate melodies, and improvised solos

How can I use them in my music?

Instrumental music often employs abbreviated forms to indicate tempo, key or time signature changes, or other performance directions. In popular and folk music, chord symbols are often used as abbreviations to indicate the harmonic progressions of a song or tune. The following is a list of some common abbreviations that may be found in lead sheets and other types of musical notation.

Arr.: Arrangement
BPM: Beats per minute
C: Code (indicates a change in tempo, key or time signature)
D.C.: Da Capo (go back to the beginning)
F: Fade (gradually lower the volume to nothing)
Gtr.: Guitar
I-IV-V-I: A commonly used chord progression in which the tonic chord (I), subdominant chord (IV), and dominant chord (V) are followed by the tonic chord again
L.H.: Left hand
OP.: Opus number
Pno.: Piano
R.H.: Right hand
Tempo: The speed at which a piece of music is meant to be played