page_title: Glossary of jazz and popular music
section_title: V
hierarchical_section_title: Glossary of jazz and popular music / V
caption_attribution_description: API 1608 Recording Console - logo &amp; VU meters on bridge (photo by Q)
context_page_description: This is a list of jazz and popular music terms that are likely to be encountered in printed popular music songbooks, fake books and vocal scores, big band scores, jazz, and rock concert reviews, and album liner notes. This glossary includes terms for musical instruments, playing or singing techniques, amplifiers, effects units, sound reinforcement equipment, and recording gear and techniques which are widely used in jazz and popular music. Most of the terms are in English, but in some cases, terms from other languages are encountered.
context_section_description: vamp
  A short, simple chord sequence, often two chords (e.g., d minor to G7 for a song in C major) which is repeated to fill in time. Another popular vamp is I VI ii V, which in the key of C major is C A7 d minor G7.
   vamp till cue
  A jazz, fusion, and musical theater term which instructs rhythm section members to repeat and vary a short chord progression,  ostinato passage, riff, or "groove" until the band leader or conductor instructs them to move onto the next section
  vanity record
  Analogous to a vanity press book, which a person pays to have produced, a vanity record is financed by the musical performer.
   'verb
  An abbreviation for "reverb" which typically refers to the electronic reverb effect.
   virtuoso
  (noun or adjective) performing with exceptional ability, technique, or artistry
   vocal score or piano-vocal score
  A music score of a musical theater show or a vocal or choral composition where the vocal parts are written out in full but the accompaniment is reduced to two staves and adapted for playing on piano
   voicing
  The choice of, and order of notes in the playing of a chord, which creates a different sound. For example, a C Maj 7 chord played with the voicing "C, E, G, B" (letter names refer to individual pitches that make up the chord) is often considered to sound more "open" than a voicing where the chord is inverted so that some of the chord tones are very close in pitch (e.g. B, C, E, G). Another way that players may "voice" the same type of chord differently is by adding tones. For example, if a lead sheet shows the chord C Maj 7, some guitarists might play "E,A,D", a voicing which is "open" (insofar as it consists of large intervals) and which contains two "colour" tones, namely the sixth ("A") and the ninth ("D") of the chord.
   VU meter
  An abbreviation for "Volume Unit" meter; a sound level metering approach that measures the average sound levels. Commonly used in LED and needle indicators on mixing boards, sound processors, and other electronic gear.
caption: VU meters on an API recording console.
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