Musical Verbs

to play the supporting music while someone sings or plays the main tune

to change a piece of music so that it is suitable for a particular type of voice or instrument

speak or play clearly and expressively

to play or sing the music that goes with the main singer or musician's performance

to play a tune on the piano very loudly and not very well

to make a pattern of sounds by hitting an instrument or other object

if music blasts, or if it is blasted, it plays very loudly

to perform music in the streets and other public places for money

to hit your hands together at the same speed and beat as a piece of music or poetry

to write a piece of music

to stand in front of an orchestra or group of singers and direct the way they play or sing

to make musical sounds with your lips closed

to perform a piece of music, a part in a play etc in a way that shows how you understand it and feel about it

to play music in an informal way with a group of people

to pretend to sing or say something by moving your lips at the same time as a recording of music or speech is played

to electronically repeat a sample (=short piece of recorded music or sound) without a break

if a piece of music modulates, it changes to a different key

to make the sound of a musical instrument softer and less loud, especially by using a mute

to arrange a piece of music

to pull the strings of a musical instrument with your fingers in order to produce a sound

to do a performance, especially of music, so that it can be put onto a CD, dvd, cassette, or video

to copy a short piece of music from a record, and then use it again as part of a new piece of music. This activity is called sampling.

to write a piece of music for a particular group of instruments or voices

to sing or play written music the first time you look at it, without practising it first

to play two or more musical notes with no pause between them

to press a key or to hit a musical instrument with a finger or a hand in order to produce a note or a series of notes

to play a guitar or other musical instrument by moving your fingers quickly across its strings

if music swings, it has a strong pleasant beat

to change music so that a different instrument can play it

to change the key of a piece of music so that it can be performed using higher or lower notes

if a group of musicians tune up, they make small changes to their instruments so that they can play well together

if a musician keeps time, they play a piece of music at the correct speed and beat