Music vocabulary covers the words people use for songs, performers, instruments, and live performances. You can use it to say what you hear, what you like, and what someone does in music. A person may listen to a song, sing a song, or play a song on an instrument. Some words name the music itself, and others name the people and things around it. For a wider set of leisure words, see Creative Hobbies.

Common instruments include guitar, piano, drum, violin, bass, and flute. A person who plays the guitar is a guitarist. A person who plays the piano is a pianist. A person who plays the drums is a drummer. A person who plays the violin is a violinist. A person who leads a band is the conductor or the bandleader, depending on the setting. In a small group, the player names often matter more than the instrument name when people talk about who is performing. The phrase musician + play + instrument works in everyday speech: She plays the piano. He is a drummer. The word band often refers to a group with guitars, drums, and vocals, while orchestra refers to a larger group with many instruments.

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A large keyboard instrument with strings insideA group of people who perform music togetherA wind instrument made of metal that uses a reedA long thin wind instrument that you play by blowing across a holeA person who uses their voice to perform songsA person who leads an orchestra or choirA person who plays or creates musicA string instrument that people play by plucking or strummingA set of percussion instruments played by hitting themA small string instrument that you play with a bow

Common instrument and musician words

Word	Definition
guitar	A string instrument that people play by plucking or strumming.
piano	A large keyboard instrument with strings inside.
drums	A set of percussion instruments played by hitting them.
violin	A small string instrument that you play with a bow.
flute	A long thin wind instrument that you play by blowing across a hole.
saxophone	A wind instrument made of metal that uses a reed.
musician	A person who plays or creates music.
singer	A person who uses their voice to perform songs.
band	A group of people who perform music together.
conductor	A person who leads an orchestra or choir.

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A genre tells you the type of music. Common genres include pop, rock, jazz, classical, hip hop, country, folk, blues, metal, and electronic. People use these words to describe what they hear or what they prefer: I like pop music. They listen to jazz at night. Some genre names also describe a style inside a larger category. Acoustic music uses mostly non-electric instruments, while electronic music uses digital sounds and equipment. Hip hop is often written without a hyphen in everyday English, especially in general descriptions. When someone says music style, they may mean a genre, a sound, or the way a song feels.

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A style of music that comes from traditional songs and storiesA style of music that expresses strong feeling and often sounds slow and soulfulA style of music that is often linked to rural life and storytellingA style of music that usually uses electric guitars and strong drumsA style of music from Jamaica with a relaxed rhythmA style of music made mainly with electronic instruments and technologyA style of music with catchy tunes that many people enjoyA style of music known for rhythm, improvisation, and swingA style of music from the long tradition of European art musicA style of music that often features spoken rhymes and a strong beat

Common music genre and style words

Word	Definition
pop	A style of music with catchy tunes that many people enjoy.
rock	A style of music that usually uses electric guitars and strong drums.
jazz	A style of music known for rhythm, improvisation, and swing.
classical	A style of music from the long tradition of European art music.
hip hop	A style of music that often features spoken rhymes and a strong beat.
country	A style of music that is often linked to rural life and storytelling.
reggae	A style of music from Jamaica with a relaxed rhythm.
blues	A style of music that expresses strong feeling and often sounds slow and soulful.
electronic	A style of music made mainly with electronic instruments and technology.
folk	A style of music that comes from traditional songs and stories.

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A singer uses the voice as the main instrument. A songwriter writes songs. A producer shapes the sound of a recording. A DJ plays and mixes recorded music. A fan listens to and supports an artist or group. Music happens in many places. A stage is the area where performers appear in front of an audience. A venue is the place where a concert happens, such as a club, theater, or arena. A studio is a room or building where people record music. A choir is a group of singers, often in a church, school, or concert setting. In a band, the front person or lead singer is the performer who stands at the center of the show.

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The place where a concert or show happensA person who helps shape and record the sound of musicA person who writes musicA person who writes the words of a songThe raised area where performers appear in front of an audienceA group of singers who perform together, often in a choirA room or building where music is recordedA large group of musicians who play many kinds of instruments togetherA person who strongly likes a singer, band, or style of musicThe people who watch or listen to a performance

People and places in music life

Word	Definition
audience	The people who watch or listen to a performance.
fan	A person who strongly likes a singer, band, or style of music.
composer	A person who writes music.
lyricist	A person who writes the words of a song.
producer	A person who helps shape and record the sound of music.
studio	A room or building where music is recorded.
stage	The raised area where performers appear in front of an audience.
venue	The place where a concert or show happens.
orchestra	A large group of musicians who play many kinds of instruments together.
chorus	A group of singers who perform together, often in a choir.

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A song usually has a verse, a chorus, and sometimes a bridge. The verse tells part of the story or idea. The chorus repeats the main line or hook. The bridge gives contrast before the song returns to the chorus. A hook is the short part people remember quickly. Songs also have sound words. Melody is the main tune. Rhythm is the pattern of beats. Beat is the steady pulse you feel in the music. Tempo is how fast or slow the music moves. Lyrics are the words of the song. A song can sound loud, soft, high, low, fast, or slow. People also say a song is catchy when it is easy to remember.

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How loud or quiet the sound isThe part of a song that repeats and is often the most memorableThe pattern of beats in musicThe main tune of a songThe speed of a piece of musicThe words of a songDifferent notes sung or played together in a pleasing wayThe steady pulse you can feel in a songA short section that connects different parts of a songA part of a song with words that usually changes each time

Song structure and sound words

Word	Definition
verse	A part of a song with words that usually changes each time.
chorus	The part of a song that repeats and is often the most memorable.
bridge	A short section that connects different parts of a song.
melody	The main tune of a song.
rhythm	The pattern of beats in music.
beat	The steady pulse you can feel in a song.
lyrics	The words of a song.
harmony	Different notes sung or played together in a pleasing way.
tempo	The speed of a piece of music.
volume	How loud or quiet the sound is.

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A concert is a live music performance. A gig is a more informal word for a performance, especially for a small or regular show. A tour is a series of concerts in different places. Before a show, artists may have a rehearsal, which is practice for the performance. In the studio, artists record music, mix the sound, and edit the tracks. The backstage area is behind the performance space, where performers prepare. The audience watches the show, and the crowd is the group of people there together. At the end of a strong performance, the audience may ask for an encore, which is an extra song after the planned set. In formal writing, people may say live performance, while in everyday speech they often just say show.

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A single song on an album or a recorded piece of musicShort form of microphone, the device that picks up soundA live musical performance for an audienceA practice session before a performanceAn informal word for a live performanceA pass that lets someone enter a concert or showA device that plays sound out loudA collection of recorded songs released togetherThe area behind the stage where performers and crew workTo make music into a stored audio file or disc

Live show and recording words

Word	Definition
concert	A live musical performance for an audience.
gig	An informal word for a live performance.
rehearsal	A practice session before a performance.
record	To make music into a stored audio file or disc.
track	A single song on an album or a recorded piece of music.
album	A collection of recorded songs released together.
mic	Short form of microphone, the device that picks up sound.
speaker	A device that plays sound out loud.
ticket	A pass that lets someone enter a concert or show.
backstage	The area behind the stage where performers and crew work.

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People listen to music, hear music, play music, sing a song, and dance to a beat. A listener may turn up the volume or turn down the volume. Someone can discover a new artist, follow a band, or download a track. Musicians write songs, practice an instrument, and perform on stage. A song can start, build, and end. A person may enjoy a genre, prefer one style, or relax with quiet music. When people talk about taking part, they often use subject + verb + object patterns: She plays the guitar. They sing the chorus. We listen to the album. For more everyday action words in another topic, see Creative Hobbies.

Common music verbs and listening uses

Usage	Explanation
Enjoying music	Use listen to when you pay attention to music with your ears.
Playing an instrument	Use play with an instrument name to say someone performs on it.
Singing a song	Use sing when a person uses their voice to perform music.
Starting a performance	Use perform when someone presents music in front of people.
Practicing music	Use practice when someone repeats music to improve.
Writing music	Use write or compose when someone creates a song.
Following a song	Use follow when you keep up with the words or melody as you hear it.
Enjoying a performance	Use enjoy when you like the sound or show.
Dancing to music	Use dance to when music makes people move their bodies in time.
Applauding at the end	Use applaud when people clap to show approval after music.

Some music words keep a special spelling in English. Hip hop is commonly written as two words in general text, while some titles, logos, and brand names may use a hyphen or a different style. Encore usually appears in live-show language and means an extra performance after the main set. In English, people usually say give an encore or call for an encore. The word is not used for a normal practice session or a recorded track. Music writing also often keeps title case in song names and album names, but everyday sentences use ordinary capitalization. When a style note appears in a label, it tells you how the word is commonly written in public English, not how it sounds.

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This phrase means the planned order of songs for a concertThis word means a new performance of a song that was first sung by someone elseThis word means a repeat performance or an extra song at the end of a showThis word means a performance that happens in front of people, not a recordingThis is the most common spelling when writing the music genre name in careful English

Common style and usage notes in music

Region	Variant	Definition	Example
General English	hip hop	This is the most common spelling when writing the music genre name in careful English.	My brother likes hip hop more than rock.
General English	encore	This word means a repeat performance or an extra song at the end of a show.	The crowd shouted for an encore.
General English	live	This word means a performance that happens in front of people, not a recording.	We heard the band live last night.
General English	cover	This word means a new performance of a song that was first sung by someone else.	She sang a cover of an old pop song.
General English	set list	This phrase means the planned order of songs for a concert.	The singer changed the set list before the show.

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