tremolon.
/ˈtrɛmələʊ/, /ˈtrɛml̩əʊ/, U.S. /ˈtrɛməˌloʊ/ Music.
1. attributive.1896 Godey's Mag. Feb. 195/1 Some cheap melodramatic stuff with tremolo shudders in the orchestra.
a. A tremulous or vibrating effect produced on certain musical instruments or in the human voice in singing, esp. to express intensity of emotion: cf. vibrato adv. and n.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > [noun] > timbre or quality > vibrato
tremulousness1727
quiverante1775
tremolo1786
tremolant1854
vibrato1876
bebung1879
tremulant1884
1724 Short Explic. Foreign Words Musick Bks. Tremola, to Tremble, a particular Grace in Musick.]
1786 T. Busby Compl. Dict. Music Tremolo, Tremolante, or Tremente, a word intimating that the notes are to be drawn out with a tremulous motion.
1865 M. E. Braddon Sir Jasper xvii The trickling arpeggios and treble tremulos of a modern nocturne were all-sufficient.
1884 H. C. Deacon in Grove Dict. Music IV. 166/2 The instrumental tremolo is more nearly allied to the vocal vibrato. Indeed, what is called ‘vibrato’ on bowed instruments is what would be ‘tremolo’ in vocal music.
b. transferred and figurative.
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1877 L. W. M. Lockhart Mine is Thine xviii Her back still turned and a tremolo in her voice.
1897 Daily News 23 Nov. 6/2 He [a writer] executes so many tremolos and elaborate modulations on his theme.
2. A mechanical contrivance in an organ by which such an effect is produced; a tremulant. Also tremolo stop.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > keyboard instrument > organ > [noun] > stop > tremolo stop
shaking stop1659
trembling-stop1659
tremolando1852
tremolant1854
tremulant1862
tremolo1869
1869 A. J. Evans Vashti xi. 145 The..overwhelming pathos of the tones affected Dr. Grey much as the tremolo-stop in some organ-overture in a dimly-lighted cathedral.
1869 M. J. Matthews in Eng. Mech. 31 Dec. 385/3 A sixth is the ‘tremolo’, the least valuable of the lot.
Draft additions 1993
b. A device used on an electric guitar to produce a tremolo effect, by varying the tension of the strings; spec. = tremolo arm n. at Additions below.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > other musical instruments > [noun] > electronic > electronic effects and devices
tremolo1959
trem arm1961
tremolo arm1961
fuzzbox1964
wah-wah1968
wah-wah pedal1969
voice1970
phasera1974
patch1975
sequencer1975
drum machine1976
flanger1979
pitchbend1982
beat-box1983
MIDI1983
1959 Melody Maker 21 Nov. 19 (advt.) Electric Guitars complete with amplifiers... Amplifier fitted with tremolo.
1963 Melody Maker 28 Sept. 15/6 Many devices add to the natural sound of the guitar—tremolo and echo for instance.
1977 K. Achard Fender Guitar 25 A new built-in ‘Floating Tremolo’ was fitted to the Jazzmaster.
1984 Money Apr. 34/3 Fender's Stratocaster electric guitar with tremolo (for a vibrato effect) and case.
1989 Guitar Player Mar. 29 (advt.) He asked for a Strat with..the American Standard tremolo.
Draft additions 1993
tremolo arm n. a lever arm used on an electric guitar to produce a tremolo effect; cf. sense Additions b.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > other musical instruments > [noun] > electronic > electronic effects and devices
tremolo1959
trem arm1961
tremolo arm1961
fuzzbox1964
wah-wah1968
wah-wah pedal1969
voice1970
phasera1974
patch1975
sequencer1975
drum machine1976
flanger1979
pitchbend1982
beat-box1983
MIDI1983
1961 Melody Maker 8 July 15/3 (advt.) Amplifiers—Echo units—Tremolo arms.
1982 D. Lawrenson Compl. Guitar Guide 9/2 In 1954..the Fender Stratocaster..had three pickups instead of two... There was also a tremolo arm which moved the strings up and down to give a vibrato effect.
1990 Independent 28 Sept. 17/4 I could hit a note and bend it up with the tremolo arm, or bend it down.
Draft additions 1993
ˈtremolo v. rare (intransitive) to perform in tremolo.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > playing instruments > playing stringed instrument > play stringed instrument [verb (intransitive)] > play guitar > specific technique
tremolo1924
fingerpick1970
1924 H. T. Lowe-Porter tr. Mann Buddenbrooks II. viii. vi. 114 There are tricks; and you tremolo here, too—where did you pick that up?
1978 Gramophone Mar. 1627/3 It is odd to hear Recuerdos tremoloed by a mandolin instead of the guitar.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1786