FOUR BY WILL SHORTZ
From The Puzzlemaster Presents

1)  MUSIC THEORY

The blanks below can be filled in with the same letters, in the same order, with the exceptions of the last letters in each clue.

_ _ _   _ _ _ _  MUSIC
_ _ _   _ _ _ _  THEORY

2)  TWO-TONE

Name a common English word that contains the consecutive letter combination T-A-N-T-A-N .

3)  SALTY LANGUAGE

There are four common words in the English language that contain the consecutive letters N-A-C-L. Can you name them?

4) BASEBALL GEAR

Think of a word for an article of (outer) clothing worn below the waist by both men and women. Now think of a generic term for an article of (outer) clothing worn above the waist by women. Put the two words together, without re-arranging letters, and you'll get a word used in baseball. What is it?

HINTS:
1. The first letters of all four words are B's.
2. The first letter of the word is I.
3. All four words end in E.
4. The second word is TOP.

Answers:

1)
BIG BAND MUSIC
BIG BANG THEORY

2. INSTANTANEOUS

3. BARNACLE / MANACLE / PINNACLE / TABERNACLE 

4. SHORTSTOP  (SHORTS + TOP)