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Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL - Music

Here you will learn some English words about music, such as "verse", "tune", "vinyl", etc. that are needed for the TOEFL exam.

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Essential Words Needed for TOEFL
acoustic
acoustic
[Adjective]

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

Ex: She preferred the acoustic guitar for its warm, natural tone. 
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instrumental
instrumental
[Adjective]

(of music) made only by instruments and without vocals

Ex: The instrumental piece featured a beautiful piano melody accompanied by strings. 
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vinyl
vinyl
[noun]

a record made of synthetic resin or plastic, used in the past before CDs became popular

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tune
tune
[noun]

a sequence of musical notes arranged in a specific order to create a recognizable piece of music

Ex: She hummed a cheerful tune while cooking dinner. 
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soundtrack

the recorded sounds, speeches, or music of a movie, play, or musical

Ex: The movie's soundtrack features a mix of classical and modern music. 
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orchestra
orchestra
[noun]

a group of musicians playing various instruments gathered and organized to perform a classic piece

Ex: The orchestra performed a symphony composed by Beethoven with great precision and emotion. 
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verse
verse
[noun]

a series of lines forming a unit in a song or poem

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chorus
chorus
[noun]

a section of a song or poem that follows each verse

Ex: The chorus of the song features a catchy melody that repeats throughout the track. 
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amplifier
amplifier
[noun]

an electronic device that strengthens electrical signals or causes sounds to get louder

Ex: The guitarist plugged his electric guitar into the amplifier to increase its volume. 
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beat
beat
[noun]

a piece of music's or a poem's main rhythm

Ex: The drummer sets the beat for the band, establishing the tempo and rhythm of the song. 
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choir
choir
[noun]

a group of singers who perform together, particularly in religious ceremonies or in public

Ex: The church choir sang hymns during the Sunday morning service. 
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to compose

to write a musical piece

Ex: She was inspired by nature's beauty to compose a serene and melodic piano sonata. 
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to conduct

to direct a choir or orchestra using special movements of the hands

Ex: She conducted the orchestra with precise hand gestures, ensuring everyone stayed in sync. 
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conductor
conductor
[noun]

someone who guides and directs an orchestra

Ex: The conductor raised their baton, signaling the orchestra to begin the symphony. 
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duo
duo
[noun]

a musical work for two singers or players

Ex: The jazz duo captivated the audience with their smooth improvisations and tight harmonies. 
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note
note
[noun]

a written sign or symbol indicating a single tone of particular pitch and length made by a vocal or musical instrument

Ex: The teacher asked them to identify the notes on the staff. 
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flat
flat
[Adjective]

(of a musical note) being a semitone lower than the note mentioned

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sharp
sharp
[Adjective]

(of a musical note) a half step higher than a particular note

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harmony
harmony
[noun]

notes of music played or sung in a combination that produces a pleasing effect

Ex: The choir sang in beautiful harmony, blending their voices to create a rich and unified sound. 
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major
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: The piece was composed in a bright and uplifting major key. 
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minor
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: The piece was written in a minor key, giving it a melancholic tone. 
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pitch
pitch
[noun]

the degree of highness or lowness of a tone that is determined by the frequency of waves producing it

Ex: She adjusted the pitch of her voice to match the melody of the song perfectly. 
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rhythm
rhythm
[noun]

a strong repeated pattern of musical notes or sounds

Ex: She clapped along with the rhythm of the music. 
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tempo
tempo
[noun]

the speed that a piece of music is or should be played at

Ex: The conductor adjusted the tempo to match the mood of the piece. 
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meter
meter
[noun]

the arrangement of unstressed and stressed syllables in a verse that produces the rhythm

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string
string
[noun]

a cord of stretched wire, nylon, etc. on a musical instrument that is plucked to produce sound

Ex: The guitarist strummed the strings of his acoustic guitar, filling the room with melodic chords. 
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recital
recital
[noun]

a public performance of music or poetry by an individual or a small group

Ex: She performed a beautiful piano recital at the concert hall. 
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to pluck
to pluck
[Verb]

to play a string instrument, such as a guitar, using the fingers or a plectrum

Ex: The musician plucked the strings of the guitar softly, creating a soothing melody. 
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scale
scale
[noun]

an arrangement of a series of musical notes with specified intervals, in ascending or descending pitch order

Ex: The C major scale consists of seven notes, starting with C and following a specific pattern of intervals. 
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solo
solo
[noun]

a musical piece written for one singer or instrument

Ex: The pianist played a beautiful solo during the concert. 
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single
single
[noun]

a CD or a musical record that has only one main song, often released separately from an album to promote it

Ex: The band released a new single ahead of their upcoming album. 
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composer
composer
[noun]

a person who writes music as their profession

Ex: The composer created a symphony that was performed by a prestigious orchestra. 
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