Music Makers: Words for Instruments & Playing - BeDict Trending

Love music? Whether you play an instrument or just love to listen, the right words can make the experience richer. Let's explore some beautiful vocabulary to describe the art of making music. From a gentle strum to a powerful symphony, these words will help you talk about music like a pro. Ready to level up your musical vocabulary?

virtuoso

/ˌvɜ.tʃuˈəʊ.səʊ/ /ˌvɝ.tʃuˈoʊ.soʊ/

Specifically, a musician (or other performer) with masterly ability, technique, or personal style.

Examples:

"The young pianist was already considered a virtuoso at the age of ten. "

improvisation

improvisationnoun

/ˌɪmprəvɪˈzeɪʃən/ /ˌɪmprɒvɪˈzeɪʃən/

The act or art of composing and making music, poetry, and the like, extemporaneously

Examples:

"He played a quick improvisation on the keyboard."

resonance

/ˈɹɛzənəns/

An increase in the strength or duration of a musical tone produced by sympathetic vibration.

Examples:

"The guitar's body added resonance to the plucked string, making the sound richer and last longer. "

crescendo

/kɹəˈʃɛn.dəʊ/ /kɹəˈʃɛn.doʊ/

A gradual increase of anything, especially to a dramatic climax.

Examples:

"Their fighting rose in a fearsome crescendo."

timbre

/ˈtæmbə(ɹ)/ /ˈtæm.bɚ/

The quality of a sound independent of its pitch and volume.

Examples:

"Even though both singers sang the same note at the same volume, their voices had a different timbre, making one sound brighter and the other more mellow. "

articulation

articulationnoun

/ɑːˌtɪk.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/ /ɑɹˌtɪk.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/

The manner in which something is articulated (tongued, slurred or bowed).

Examples:

"The articulation in this piece is tricky because it alternates between legato and staccato."

sonorous

sonorousadjective

/ˈsɒn.əɹ.əs/ /ˈsoʊ.nə.ɹəs/

Capable of giving out a deep, resonant sound.

Examples:

"The highlight of the hike was the sonorous cave, which produced a ringing echo from the hiker’s shouts."

cadenza

/kəˈdɛnzə/ /kæˈdɛnzə/

A part of a piece of music, such as a concerto, that is very decorative and is played by a single musician.

Examples:

"The violinist thrilled the audience with an impressive cadenza near the end of the concerto, showcasing her skill with a flurry of fast notes. "

repertoire

/ˈɹɛp.ə.twɑː/ /ˈɹɛp.ə.twɑɹ/

A list of dramas, operas, pieces, parts, etc., which a company or a person has rehearsed and is prepared to perform or display.

Examples:

"The conjurer expanded his repertoire with some new tricks."

intonation

/ɪntɵˈneɪʃən/

Singing or playing in good tune or otherwise.

Examples:

"Her intonation was false."

glissando

/ɡlɪˈsɑːndoʊ/ /ɡlɪˈsændoʊ/

Either a continuous sliding from one pitch to another ("true" glissando), or an incidental scale played while moving from one melodic note to another ("effective" glissando).

Examples:

"The pianist ended the piece with a flourish, a dramatic glissando down the keyboard. "

acoustics

/əˈkuːstɪks/

The physical quality of a space for conveying sound.

Examples:

"The acoustics in the concert hall were so good that every note sounded clear and vibrant. "