Sometimes music can be so beautiful that words seem to fall short. The truth is that your vocabulary falls short from time to time, and there are tons of words to describe music that can work like a perfect pitch.
Now, this is nothing to feel bad about because it happens to the best of us; music speaks to the heart and soul in a different language.
We’ve compiled a list of 30 of the best words to describe music that you can use in-person, online, or wherever you see fit.
Let’s take a look at different words to describe music based on style, melody/tempo, lyrics, and performances by musicians:
Eight words to describe music styles
There are several different styles, otherwise known as genres, that you can use to categorize music. Here are eight words to describe music styles/genres:
01Classic
The word classic is a good word to use to describe classical music because the word describes something that embodies a traditional style or well-established style.
You may also use the word classic to describe other genres; for instance, you could call a rap or country song a classic because it is regarded as having great quality and setting the tone for other songs that follow.
This is one way you can use the word to describe a music style:
E.g. “I love his classic style of rap. It brings me back to the days of Biggie and Tupac.”
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02Electric
The word electric can be used to describe the genre of music that is based on upbeat and thrilling melodies and tempo. It can also be used in other genres to say that the music connects well with its audience.
E.g. “No one can stay in one place when this song comes on. It’s so electric!”
03Funky
Funky is a good word to describe music styles that have strong dance rhythms, such as pop, dancehall, or reggae. It is a good word because it shows that the style is energetic and uplifting.
E.g. “I enjoy funky styles of music, like the type of music made by Jimmy Bob, Jane Doe, and Ryan Lowe. ”
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04Hardcore
Hardcore music styles generally refer to rock, heavy metal, and/or rap that are more intense than other styles of music. The music is considered as high-energy music, and it is not really for conservative people. This type of music is known to invoke strong emotions.
E.g. “I respect how hardcore his rap has gotten. It makes me feel like I’m there with him in the streets.”
05Nostalgic
Nostalgic genres are like r&b, jazz, and country music because these genres are known for telling stories through their lyrics. These stories generally cause people to reflect on personal experiences which allows them to connect to the music.
This is one way you can use the word nostalgic to describe music:
E.g. “I’m a huge fan of Frankie. His nostalgic style of music is a real tear-jerker.”
Relaxing is a good word to describe music styles such as reggae, jazz and the blues because they are usually easy going and mellow.
The music puts you in a state of happiness, contentment, and light-heartedness.
E.g. “Listening to this relaxing music makes me feel like I’m somewhere tropical, and I’m drinking fruity drinks from a coconut.”
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07Rhythmic
Rhythmic music can refer to any genre with upbeat melodies and rhythms that move you. It is good to say that the style is upbeat ad lively.
Here is an example of how to use this word to describe a music style:
E.g. “It was refreshing to hear someone perform something rhythmic. This talent show was becoming a snooze fest with all those somber ballads.”
08Sensual
Sensual music styles are those that allude you to think about intimacy and physical interactions, such as r&b, jazz, and alternative rock. It is good to use this word when the song is able to set that kind of mood.
E.g. “I can’t go one weekend without visiting that place downtown because they play sensual jazz music all through the night, and I love that.”
How to describe music based on the melody and tempo
The melody of music may be described as how the musical notes are sequenced and how they go together. On the other hand, tempo describes the speed at which the music is played.
These two go hand-in-hand when describing music. Here are eight words to describe music based on the melody and the tempo.
09Complex
The word complex means that something is not simple, easy, or straightforward. Instead, it is intricate and likely made of multiple parts.
As it relates to music, a complex melody is one that is out of the box; this makes it hard to replicate. It is generally composed by the “greats,” and people are often in awe of it.
E.g. “I overheard that song in a restaurant and tried to play it at home, but I didn’t realize how complex the melodies were!”
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10Harmonic
Harmonic is a word used to describe anything that goes well together; it seems as though it was created to describe music with a good harmony.
This word is commonly used to describe melodies that fit together well and sound pleasing to the ear. Nothing sounds out of place or off-key; instead, the melody flows together wonderfully.
This is one way you can use this word to describe the melody/tempo of music:
E.g. “My favorite thing to do is to visit the cafe and hear Jeffery play his new music with his band. They are going somewhere; their music is clean and harmonic.”
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11Hypnotic
The word hypnotic refers to something that causes or induces hypnosis; something hypnotic can put you in a calm, relaxed state.
Melodies can do that, and they tend to draw people into them, forcing them to listen to one song plenty of times.
E.g. “I could have listened to the band play its hypnotic songs all night long.”
12Rich
Besides meaning that someone is wealthy, rich may also be used to describe abundance or high-quality.
As it relates to music, a rich melody is one that captivates listeners because of its high-quality sound and complex composition.
E.g. “Whenever I walk into my tutor’s house, the halls are filled with rich melodies that he has manufactured with his piano and skilled fingertips.”
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13Textured
A textured melody is one that is made up of many layers; these layers come together smoothly to create a masterpiece.
E.g. “Richard impressed the judges by creating textured melodies with his guitar while singing the song he wrote himself.”
14Tuneful
Tuneful is a word that is used to describe music which has been well put together and is agreeable to hear. Essentially, the music sounds great. It is used to describe melodies.
E.g. “I bought my tickets after reading the reviews about how tuneful the melodies are in this musical.”
Something upbeat is optimistic in nature and cheerful. It brings good energy and good vibes. Essentially, it is very lively.
This is the type of music that gets people moving. Here’s how you can use this word in a sentence:
E.g. “His audience prefers when his songs have an upbeat tempo and a lively feel to it.”
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16Uplifting
Uplifting music is motivational, elevating, and inspiring. It is hopeful because it can help to bring people together or out of a bad mood.
This is one way to describe an uplifting melody or tempo:
E.g. “That was the perfect song to put in that scene. The uplifting melodies really helped bring the scene to life!”
For describing music lyrics
The lyrics of music can make or break a song. They play a huge part in how well a song is received by an audience. Good song lyrics can evoke a strong reaction in the listener.
Here are seven words to describe music lyrics:
17Bold
When used to describe lyrics, the word bold refers to something courageous; this means it goes against the norm or what is expected in society.
Other times, bold lyrics can be used to speak about controversial things; it can simply be that the artist is stepping outside his/her comfort zone.
E.g. “I admired the fact that he used his song to speak about LGBTQ rights; those lyrics were very bold of him.”
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18Clever
Clever lyrics are considered as smart or well-thought-out. This means that it forces the listener to do a sort of double-take or think deeply about something in specific.
The true meaning of the song is not on the surface level, and the meaning requires analysis and a good rational to decipher.
E.g. “I love his use of double-entendre throughout the song. I thought the lyrics were quite clever.”
19Enigmatic
Enigmatic lyrics are similar to clever lyrics, but they are much deeper in meaning and possibly harder to understand.
that Enigmatic lyrics may be mysterious; they may cover a topic of debate or controversy; listeners may take a long time to uncover the meaning of the lyrics or the artist.
E.g. “Johnny Richie was most famous for this withdrawn personality and enigmatic lyrics.”
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20Heartfelt
As the name suggests, the lyrics are felt in the heart; this refers to the fact that they are moving and resonate with the listener. This type of music can put you in an emotional state, and it can move an entire audience.
E.g. “It’s as though she melted her heart into ink to write those heartfelt lyrics on paper; we’re lucky to hear her sing them to us.”
21Playful
Playful lyrics are ones that aren’t meant to be taken too seriously. They’re light-hearted and fun; they are meant to help people have a good time.
They may make you laugh or smile, and they can even get you up and dancing.
E.g. “I love how playful her lyrics are. She’s just having so much fun with her music.”
22Poetic
Poetic lyrics are those that are written in such a way that the meaning is much deeper than the words on the page.
They are written with the intention of evoking certain emotional responses in the audience by using specific words with multiple meanings.
This is one way to use the word to describe lyrics:
E.g. “Her song selection had deep, poetic lyrics which allowed her to really connect with the audience and the judges.”
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23Romantic
Romantic lyrics speak about love, intimacy, and relationships. It is good to use this word when the lyrics express strong feelings of love and happiness to the audience.
E.g. “Every woman in the crowd was captivated by his romantic lyrics; they were probably wishing that they were his sweetheart.”
Seven words to describe the musical performance
After a good musical performance, you’ll need words to describe music that will showcase exactly how you felt while watching it. Here are seven words that you can use:
24Breathtaking
A breathtaking musical performance is one that is so awe-inspiring that it may cause you to stumble over words or lose your words entirely. It may make it difficult for you to come up with words to describe it. So, you can use this word to describe it!
E.g. “I never expected to be this impressed with hearing someone play the harmonica, but I can honestly say that his performance was breathtaking.”
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25Captivating
Something that is captivating is able to capture your attention; it can make it hard for you to look away or stop paying attention. A captivating musical performance draws you in and attracts you for the entire duration.
E.g. “Everyone’s eyes were glued to the stage when she bellowed the most captivating rendition of I Will Always Love You; she could rival Whitney Houston herself!”
26Masterful
A masterful performance is one that is given or played with high skill. The performer knows how to control the stage, capture the attention of the audience, and most importantly, have a strong command of his/her musical talents.
E.g. “I knew she was good, but I didn’t know she was that good! That was the most masterful playing of the harp that I’ve ever seen.”
When the word refined is used to describe a musical performance, it means that it wasn’t over the top. It was simple, elegant, and full of talent.
Here’s how you can use the word refined to describe a performance:
E.g. “Even though things were hectic backstage, she managed to walk out and give a refined performance of her self-titled song.”
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28Sophisticated
A sophisticated performance is one that is elegant in nature, classy, and highly skilled. This generally refers to a sit-down performance, and it may not refer necessarily to a concert where people rave.
E.g. “I love how everything was set up from the décor and the lighting to the costumes. That was the most sophisticated performance I’ve ever experienced.”
29Stellar
Stellar is a word that can be used to describe an excellent performance when the performance has exceeded your expectations.
It is good to use because it basically says that the person is a star, and the performance was befitting of a star.
E.g. “I expected nothing less from him! His performances are always stellar!”
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30Underrated
Something that is underrated is not given enough attention or credit. It is not recognized as much as it should be, and it is quite unfortunate because it means that it is quite good but unknown to most people.
E.g. “I know many people appreciate Sophia Lemon’s music, but I think her skills are underrated. If people would just go to her concerts, they’d see that she is much more than a pretty voice.”
Lastly
Now that you’ve expanded your music vocabulary by 30 words, you can use any one of these delightful words to describe music that you love and appreciate.
We’re positive that once you pick the right one and you share your experience using this perfect right word, the person will have a much better understanding of what you want to say.
