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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acoustic

[Adjective]

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

Ex: They performed an acoustic version of the song , using only guitars and vocals .

instrumental

[Adjective]

(of music) made only by instruments and without vocals

Ex: They performed an instrumental cover of the popular song , showcasing their musical skills .

vinyl

[noun]

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

tune

[noun]

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

Ex: He can play almost any tune on his guitar by ear .

soundtrack

[noun]

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

Ex: The soundtrack of the romantic drama captured the essence of the film 's mood .

orchestra

[noun]

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

Ex: The sound of the orchestra swelled , filling the concert hall with a rich , powerful sound .

verse

[noun]

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

chorus

[noun]

a section of a song or poem that follows each verse

Ex: The audience joined in singing the chorus during the concert , creating a sense of unity and participation .

amplifier

[noun]

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

Ex: The sound engineer adjusted the amplifier levels to achieve optimal sound quality for the live performance .

beat

[noun]

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

Ex: He could n't help but nod to the beat of the rhythm .

choir

[noun]

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

Ex: He sings in a community choir that performs classical choral music .

to compose

[Verb]

to write a musical piece

Ex: They asked her to compose a piece for the upcoming concert .

to conduct

[Verb]

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

Ex: The conductor skillfully conducted the ensemble , bringing out the nuances in the music .

conductor

[noun]

someone who guides and directs an orchestra

Ex: He 's admired for his ability to communicate musical ideas and emotions effectively as a conductor.

duo

[noun]

a musical work for two singers or players

Ex: He and his brother formed a guitar duo, playing folk songs at local coffeehouses .

note

[noun]

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

Ex: He marked the notes on his music with a pencil .

flat

[Adjective]

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

sharp

[Adjective]

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

harmony

[noun]

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

Ex: Jazz musicians often improvise harmonies, creating new and unexpected musical textures .

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 guitarist played a series of major chords to enhance the song 's harmony .

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 minor key is often used to convey deeper, more introspective emotions.

pitch

[noun]

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

Ex: The orchestra conductor emphasized the importance of maintaining consistent pitch throughout the performance .

rhythm

[noun]

a strong repeated pattern of musical notes or sounds

Ex: The marching band followed a precise rhythm.

tempo

[noun]

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

Ex: In classical music , tempo changes are often used to add variety to a performance .

meter

[noun]

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

string

[noun]

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

Ex: He replaced the worn-out strings on his electric guitar to improve its sound quality for the concert.

recital

[noun]

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

Ex: He prepared for his recital by practicing daily for several weeks .

to pluck

[Verb]

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

Ex: She plucked the nylon strings of the classical guitar , producing rich , resonant tones .

scale

[noun]

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

Ex: Learning to play scales is an essential foundation for any musician , as it enhances their understanding of harmony and melody .

solo

[noun]

a musical piece written for one singer or instrument

Ex: His drum solo added excitement to the rock band 's show .

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 single includes a bonus track that isn't available on the album.

composer

[noun]

a person who writes music as their profession

Ex: She admired the composer's ability to blend various musical styles seamlessly .

Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL
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