Instruments, Sounds, Rhythms, and Singing Styles

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to various instruments, sounds, rhythms, and singing styles from different cultures.

Chordophone

Any string instrument, such as a guitar, violin, or harp.

Resonator

The hollow part of an instrument that makes sound louder, like in a guitar or banjo.

Musical Bow

One of the oldest string instruments, shaped like a bow with a string, found in Africa, Brazil, and Asia.

Harp

A large string instrument with many strings stretched across a frame, originating from ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Europe.

Lyre

A small ancient harp-like instrument from Greece and Mesopotamia.

Banjo

A string instrument with a round body and twangy sound, with African origins leading to U.S. folk and bluegrass.

Ud (Oud)

A pear-shaped lute from the Middle East and North Africa.

Taqasim/Taxsim

An improvised solo, usually performed on the oud or other instruments in Middle Eastern music.

Lute

A plucked string instrument with a rounded back, common in Europe during the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

Veena

A large plucked string instrument with frets, originating from South India.

Mandolin

A small lute-like instrument found in Italy, Europe, and U.S. folk/bluegrass.

Zither

A flat string instrument played on a table, common in Central Europe and Asia.

Qin/Ch’in (Guqin)

An ancient 7-string zither from China.

Hammered Dulcimer

A string instrument that is struck with small hammers, found in the Middle East and later in Europe and America.

Fiddle

Another name for violin in folk music, common in Europe and the U.S.

Sarangi

A bowed string instrument with sympathetic strings from North India.

Sympathetic strings

Extra strings that vibrate to enrich sound, found in instruments like the sitar and sarangi.

Polyrhythm

The simultaneous use of two or more rhythms, prevalent in Africa and worldwide.

Hocket style

A technique where a melody is split between two voices or instruments, found in Medieval Europe and Africa.

Yodeling

A singing technique that jumps between high and low registers, associated with the Alps and also found in Africa.

Call-and-response

A musical form where a leader sings a line and the group answers, common in Africa and African American music.

Sea Shanty

Work songs sung by sailors, especially popular in Europe, particularly Britain.

Lining Out

A form of singing where a leader chants or sings a line and the group repeats it, found in Scotland and U.S. churches.

Antiphonal singing

A type of choral singing where two groups alternate singing, originating from Ancient Greece and Christian church music.

Homophony/Parallel harmony

A musical texture where voices move together with the same rhythm, found in Europe and worldwide.

Harvest song

Traditional songs sung during the harvest, common worldwide, especially in Europe and Asia.

Ketchak / Ramayana Monkey Chant

A Balinese performance involving chanting men that retell the Hindu epic, found in Bali, Indonesia.

Pi Phat

A Thai classical music ensemble consisting of xylophones, gongs, and drums.

Gagaku

Ancient Japanese imperial court music.

Koto

A 13-string Japanese zither.

Plattler

A folk dance involving thigh- and shoe-slapping, common in Austria and Bavaria (Germany).

Gypsy (Romani) music

Fast, emotional music of the Romani people, prevalent in Europe, especially Hungary, Romania, and Spain.

Mariachi music

Folk music characterized by violins, trumpets, and guitars, originating from Mexico.

Highlife

A popular dance music genre that mixes African rhythms with Western instruments, found in Ghana and Nigeria.

Jazz

Improvisational music characterized by swing rhythms, originating in the United States, particularly in African American communities like New Orleans.

Griot

A West African storyteller, singer, and historian, found in Mali, Senegal, and Guinea.