Music - Describing Music

Here you will learn some English words related to describing music such as "acoustic", "a capella", and "funky".

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acoustic [adjective]

(of a musical instrument) making a sound that is natural, not amplified

Ex: He enjoyed the acoustic performance in the intimate setting of the coffee shop .

staccato [adjective]

playing or singing musical notes with short, distinct intervals between them

Ex:

tuneless [adjective]

lacking a pleasant tune

Ex: He attempted to hum along to the tune , but his voice came out tuneless and awkward .

tuneful [adjective]

pleasantly melodic and harmonious

Ex: The song ’s tuneful melody was easy to remember and stuck with you long after it ended .

tenor [adjective]

relating to the adult male voice of the highest natural pitch range

Ex:

vivace [adverb]

(music) in a lively and animated manner

Ex:

symphonic [adjective]

connected with or in form of a symphony

Ex: The concert featured a brilliant symphonic performance by the city 's orchestra .

melodious [adjective]

having a pleasant sound

Ex: Her melodious voice made the lullaby soothing and calming .

melodic [adjective]

having a pleasing, musical sound

Ex: His melodic laughter was infectious , putting everyone in a good mood .

major [adjective]

based on a scale in which the interval between the third and the fourth notes and the seventh and the eighth notes is a half step

Ex:

live [adverb]

used when an event or performance is happening at the present moment or being broadcast in real-time

Ex: We are going live in five minutes , so get ready .

instrumental [adjective]

(of music) made only by instruments and without vocals

Ex: The instrumental version of the song allowed listeners to appreciate the intricate arrangements .

harmonic [adjective]

having blended sounds or tones that combine in a pleasing way

Ex: The harmonic structure of the piece was complex and layered , making it a joy to listen to .

grungy [adjective]

connected with grunge rock music that has a loud guitar sound

sharp [adjective]

having a slightly higher pitch than the corresponding natural note

Ex: The conductor signaled for the brass section to play with a sharp attack , creating a powerful and dynamic sound .

punky [adjective]

denoting or resembling punk rock in style

natural [adjective]

(of a musical note) indicating that the note is neither sharp nor flat

minor [adjective]

based on a scale in which the interval between the second and the third notes, the fifth and the sixth notes and the seventh and eighth notes is a half step

Ex:

atonal [adjective]

(of a piece of music) marked by a lack of tonality

ambient [adjective]

relating to the type of music that emphasizes on tone and atmosphere rather than traditional structure

Ex: The ambient soundscape provided a relaxing backdrop to the spa 's massage treatments .

aleatory [adjective]

connected with or denoting musical compositions or other art forms that involve random choice using computer techniques

low [adjective]

(of a vowel) articulated by positioning the tongue down and the mouth open

Ex: Low vowels require more jaw opening .

brassy [adjective]

having a harsh, loud, or bold tone, reminiscent of brass instruments

Ex: The brass section in the orchestra added a brassy edge to the performance .

biphonic [adjective]

describing a quality of music that involves the simultaneous production of two distinct pitches or tones, often with one serving as a drone or sustained pitch while the other carries the melody or rhythm

vocal [adjective]

relating to or intended for singing

Ex:

rhythmic [adjective]

having a pattern or regular sequence of sounds, movements, or events

Ex: The clapping and stomping at the concert added a rhythmic energy to the music .

musical [adjective]

relating to or containing music

Ex: She has a musical talent and can play several instruments .

orchestral [adjective]

made for or related to an orchestra, typically involving a wide range of instruments playing together

Ex: The orchestral arrangement of the song added depth and richness to the melody .

classical [adjective]

related to music that is respected, serious, and is typically from the Western tradition

Ex:

lyric [adjective]

(of a singing voice) having a light register and a melodic style

loud [adjective]

producing a sound or noise with high volume

Ex: She spoke in a loud voice so everyone in the audience could hear her .

funky [adjective]

(of music) having a rhythmic, energetic quality with a strong, distinctive beat that encourages movement

Ex: The funky rhythm section laid down a solid foundation for the band 's improvisation .

all-star [adjective]

(of a performance) exceptional in quality or features highly skilled performers

solo [adjective]

done or created by just one musician, rather than by a group or ensemble

Ex: She wrote a solo piece for the violin , showcasing its versatility and beauty .

solid-body [adjective]

(of musical instruments) having a body made entirely from a solid block of wood or other solid material

pop [adjective]

related to popular culture, with many appealing elements such as music, fashion, art, etc.

Ex:

avant-garde [adjective]

innovative, experimental, or unconventional in style or approach, especially in the arts

Ex: The avant-garde composer experimented with unconventional instrumentation and avant-garde techniques , producing compositions that defied conventional musical conventions .

treble [adjective]

relating to the highest range of musical notes or frequencies

Ex: The treble frequencies in the audio mix were adjusted to bring out the sparkle in the piano melody .

monophonic [adjective]

describing sound transmission, recording or reproduction that is transferred through a single channel

Ex: For years , all telephones transmitted voice in monophonic audio , making conference calls sound flat .

on shuffle [adverb]

(of tracks on a music player or an app) played randomly

a capella [adverb]

solely with vocal harmony and melody

Ex:

Music
Musical Genres	Classical Music	Electronic Music	Rock Music
Folk and Country Music	Pop and Hip-Hop Music	Latin Music	Jazz and Other African-American Music
Stringed Instruments	Woodwind and Brass Instruments	Percussion Instruments	Keyboard Instruments
Electronic Instruments	Parts of Musical Instruments	Types of Musicians	Other People in the Music Industry
Musical Ensembles	Musical Notation	Musical Elements	Musical Pieces
Specific Songs and Music	Parts of Musical Pieces	Listening to Music	Recording Studio Equipment
Opera	The Music Industry	Musical Performances	Describing Music
Producing, Performing, and Recording Music	Nouns Related to Music