pickup in music meaning | TheMusicDictionary

Meaning of Pickup in Music

In music, a **pickup** refers to a short musical figure that precedes the beginning of a musical phrase. It is also known as an **anacrusis**. The pickup typically begins on a weak beat or upbeat of the previous measure and provides a melodic or rhythmic introduction to the main melody.

The term "anacrusis" is derived from its association with weak syllables in poetry. It is sometimes used to refer to pickups in a music theory context The pickup is a common figure found in almost every genre of Western music.

Function of Pickups in Music

The function of pickups in music is to provide an introduction or lead-in to the main melody. They create anticipation and set the rhythmic and melodic context for the upcoming musical phrase. By starting on a weak beat or upbeat, pickups create a sense of forward motion and prepare the listener for the downbeat of the following measure.

Examples of Pickups

To better understand pickups, let's consider an example. Suppose we have a musical phrase in 4/4 time signature, where each measure has four beats. If the main melody starts on beat 1 of the first measure, a pickup may be used to introduce the melody by starting on beat 4 of the previous measure. This pickup would consist of a few notes or a short musical motif that leads into the main melody on beat 1 of the next measure.

Types of Pickups

In addition to their rhythmic and melodic function, pickups can also refer to a different concept in music technology. A **pickup** in music technology is a transducer that captures or senses mechanical vibrations produced by musical instruments, particularly stringed instruments like the electric guitar. It converts these vibrations into an electrical signal that can be amplified and reproduced as sound through a loudspeaker ).

There are different types of pickups used in electric guitars, such as single-coil pickups and humbucker pickups. These pickups play a crucial role in shaping the tone and sound of the instrument.

Conclusion

In summary, a pickup in music refers to a short musical figure that precedes the beginning of a musical phrase. It serves as an introduction or lead-in to the main melody and is commonly found in various genres of Western music. Additionally, pickups can also refer to transducers used in music technology to capture and amplify the vibrations of stringed instruments like the electric guitar ).

1. Note(s) that proceed the first strong metrical beat, usually the first beat of the measure.

See also anacrusis.

2. An electromagnetic device mounted under the strings of an electric guitar or electric bass that senses the frequency of the vibrations of the strings and converts them into electrical impulse for amplification or recording.

This works on a simple principle of physics. A vibrating metal object (the electric guitar string) moving in a magnetic field creates an electronic signal that can be sensed by a wire coil. So the electromagnet of the pickup can sense the frequency of the vibrations of the strings and converts them into electrical signals that travel through a cable to the amplifier to increase and or alter the sound. (This same principal is the basis for electric motors, generators, phonograph needles, and acoustical speakers.)

Pickups for electric guitars and electric basses were being developed in the 1920's. The early pickups were designed to amplify the natural sound of the acoustic instruments and used the bridge of the instrument to move the vibrations to the electromagnet, but the signal was often too weak to be effective. When engineers utilized a direct pickup system, in which the electromagnet received the string vibration from the strings themselves, the modern electric guitars became a reality.

By 1961 the electric guitar was in it's full maturity and pickups were created in single-coil and double-coil, or humbucking designs. Gibson introduced "Humbucking" pickups into the Les Paul electric guitar, and was designed to eliminate unwanted hum from the magnetic coils. Humbucking pickups utilized two coils wrapped out of phase so as to cancel out the common mode hum introduced by previous designs.