false note in music meaning | TheMusicDictionary

Meaning of False Note in Music

In music, a **false note** refers to an incorrect or incorrect-sounding note that is sung or played during a musical performance. It can also be used idiomatically to describe an indication or remark that is misleading or inaccurate. The term "false note" can have different interpretations depending on the context. Let's explore a couple of them:

1. **Incorrect Note**: In the context of musical performance, a false note is an incorrect pitch or tone that is produced by a musician. It may be unintentional, resulting from a mistake or lack of accuracy in playing or singing.

2. **Muted or Dampened Note**: Another interpretation of a false note is a muted or dampened note that has rhythm but often no discernible pitch. It is often considered as an implied note in a musical phrase.

It's important to note that the term "false note" can also be used in other contexts, such as literature or storytelling, to describe a misleading or inaccurate remark or narrative.

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A muted or dampened note that has rhythm but often no discernible pitch. It is often thought of as an implied note in a musical phrase and can be not performed or performed only faintly for effect. The use of this effect with the electric guitar and bass guitar is a more aggressive sound than with the wind instruments, but the effect still is a rhythmic pulse without a discernible pitch. The false note is indicated by a (parenthesis) around the notehead or with an "X" in place of the notehead, indicating that the note is to be played very quietly, as a ghost.

The use of this technique was common in jazz music of the mid-twentieth century with instrumental soloists and in soli sections of big band music and later was used more with the electric guitar and bass guitar in rock and funk music. False notes can be found in a wide range of genres.