D
dry - when there is no echo or other extra sounds or effects other than the original sound of the voice or instrument.
dynamics - refers to a broad range in sound as in volume; soft to loud, eq; low, mid, to hight frequency, texture; rough to smooth, clear to distorted, dry to wet etc. It is usually preferred to include both ranges of sound rather than only one. Also refers to compression and limiting functions in audio recording and mixing.
delivery - an aspect of a performance that catches the attention of an audience. Usually described in such terms as intense, emotional, energetic, dead-pan, humorous, etc.
dissonance - usually when a note is played at the same time as a note only a semitone apart you will hear an unstable, jarring sound. Used in the right places this can be dramatic.
drop tuning - usually the sixth string is tuned down to a D. This creates a deeper tone to the overall sound of the instrument. Changing the tuning also allows for variations in harmonics and fingering of scales and arpeggios. There are many variations of tuning a stringed instrument, often called open tuning when the strings are tuned to a chord.
delay - a function of a pedal or recording device which repeats any signal. Delay can be adjusted to act as an echo effect.
digital - there are two ways in which information is stored and transferred, analogue and digital. Digital can refer to any form of information which is relayed in packets or pieces, therefore variations of quantity become the basis for representing variations of information. Modern computers use systems of codes using numbers to represent any type of information such as words, pictures, and even sounds.
degree - every key has seven main degrees. Degrees are usually designated by Roman numerals. So the first degree is one or I, also called the TONIC. The second degree is two or ii, and also called the SUPER TONIC. The third degree is three or iii, and also called the MEDIANT. The fourth degree is four or IV, and also called the SUBDOMINANT. The fifth degree is five or V, and also called the DOMINANT. The sixth degree is six or vi, and also called the SUBMEDIANT. The seventh degree is seven or vii, and also called the SUBTONIC.
Each degree chord is usually a triad built with the root, third and fifth. For example, in the key of C, the tonic is C,E, and G which is the C major chord. The supertonic is D, F and A, which is a D minor chord. The mediant is E, G and B, which is an E minor chord (notice that the minors are designated by lower case Roman numerals). The subdominant is F, A and C which is an F major chord. The dominant is G, B and D, which is a G major chord. The submediant chord is A, C and E, which is an A minor chord. And the subtonic chord is B, D and F, which is a diminished chord.
It is possible to add a fourth note to each chord (quatrad) which results in major sevenths (Cmaj7 and Fmaj7) and minor sevenths (Dm7, Em7 and Am7), a dominant seventh (G7) and a minor seventh flat five chord (Bm7b5).
disco - popular genre of music began in the early 1970's with artists like Isaac Hays, Barry White and The Hues Corporation. Great examples of disco songs that are still being played: The Bee Gees "Staying Alive" and Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Servive".
