Song Structure and Performance
| English | Meaning / Example |
|---|---|
| song | a piece of music with words — That's my favourite song. |
| melody | the main tune of a piece of music — She hummed the melody. |
| rhythm | the pattern of beats in music — The rhythm makes you want to dance. |
| beat | a single unit of rhythm — The song has a fast beat. |
| lyrics | the words of a song — I know all the lyrics by heart. |
| chorus | the repeated section of a song — Everyone sang along to the chorus. |
| verse | a section of a song between choruses — The first verse introduces the story. |
| album | a collection of songs released together — The band released their new album today. |
| concert | a live music performance — We went to a concert last Friday. |
| band | a group of musicians — The band played for two hours. |
| singer / vocalist | a person who sings — The vocalist has an amazing voice. |
Tip In English we say "play" an instrument (not do or make): "I play the guitar." We also say "listen to music" and *"go to a concert." These verb-noun combinations are called collocations — learning them together helps you use English naturally.
Musical Instruments
| English | Meaning / Example |
|---|---|
| guitar | a stringed instrument — She plays acoustic guitar. |
| guitarist | a person who plays guitar — He's the lead guitarist. |
| piano | a keyboard instrument — I have piano lessons on Tuesdays. |
| keyboard | an electronic piano-like instrument — The keyboard player joined last year. |
| violin | a small bowed stringed instrument — Classical music often features the violin. |
| trumpet | a brass wind instrument — He plays trumpet in the school band. |
| drums | a percussion instrument set — The drummer kept a steady beat. |
| drummer | a person who plays drums — The drummer is the heartbeat of the band. |
| bass | low-pitched instrument or sound — The bass guitar adds depth to the music. |
Music Genres
| English | Meaning / Example |
|---|---|
| classical | music in the European orchestral tradition — I enjoy classical music by Beethoven. |
| pop | popular mainstream music — Pop music is catchy and easy to sing. |
| jazz | improvisational music with African-American roots — He loves jazz. |
| rock | guitar-driven music with a strong beat — Rock music became popular in the 1950s. |
| hip-hop | rhythmic music with rapping — Hip-hop originated in New York. |
Real world: Talking about music
"Do you play any instruments?" "Yes, I play the guitar and I'm learning the piano." "My favourite genre is rock, but I also love listening to jazz." "We're going to a concert on Saturday — the band is amazing live!"
Practice Problems
What are 'lyrics'?
Show answer
The words of a song.
What is the repeated section of a song called?
Show answer
chorus
Which verb do we use with musical instruments? (e.g. ___ the guitar)
Show answer
play — 'play the guitar'
Name two music genres mentioned in this article.
Show answer
Any two of: classical, pop, jazz, rock, hip-hop