Music Lyrics Terminology Flashcards
A story or narrative woven into the song that represents a deeper moral or political message, using characters and scenarios as symbols for broader concepts.
Allegory
The repetition of initial consonant sounds in closely positioned words within lyrics, used to create rhythm and catchiness, enhancing the song’s memorability.
Alliteration
A lyrical strategy where words or phrases are intentionally left open to multiple interpretations, adding depth and allowing listeners to find personal meaning in the song.
Ambiguity
The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines in lyrics, employed to emphasize a theme or emotion, enhancing the song’s impact.
Anaphora
A lyrical device where the singer addresses an absent person, an abstract idea, or a non-human entity, often to express longing or abstract concepts.
Apostrophe
The repetition of vowel sounds within close proximity in lyrics, used to create internal rhyming and enrich the song’s sound quality.
Assonance
A style found in songs with lyrics that do not rhyme but follow a regular metric pattern, often iambic pentameter, to maintain a rhythmic flow without the constraints of rhyming.
Blank Verse
A deliberate pause in the middle of a lyrical line, used for dramatic effect or to allow the listener to reflect on the lyrics’ meaning.
Caesura
The repetition of consonant sounds within close proximity in lyrics, not limited to the beginnings of words, used to create a harmonious effect or to emphasize certain words.
Consonance
Two consecutive lines in a song that rhyme and often share the same meter, serving to conclude a thought or argument within the lyrics.
Couplet
In lyrics, the artist’s choice of words to convey tone, emotion, and meaning, shaping the song’s atmosphere and listener’s perception.
Diction
The continuation of a lyrical phrase or sentence beyond the end of a line or verse into the next, creating a flow that mirrors natural speech or adds urgency.
Enjambment
The repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive lines or verses in a song, used for emphasis or to build a theme.
Epistrophe
The use of a milder or less direct word or phrase in lyrics to discuss sensitive topics, soften the impact, or convey politeness.
Euphemism
Lyrics that do not follow a specific rhyme scheme or meter, allowing for flexibility in expression and a more conversational tone.
Free Verse
The use of exaggerated language in lyrics to emphasize a point, evoke strong feelings, or create a dramatic effect.
Hyperbole
The use of vivid and descriptive language in lyrics to create sensory experiences for the listener, painting pictures with words to enhance emotional connection.
Imagery
The expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, often for humorous or emphatic effect in lyrics.
Irony
A lyrical device where a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable, suggesting a similarity or analogy.
Metaphor
A figure of speech in which a thing or concept is referred to by the name of something closely associated with it in the lyrics, for symbolic effect.
Metonymy
The rhythmic pattern of stresses in the lyrics, contributing to the song’s flow and musicality.
Meter
A repeating element within lyrics that symbolizes a particular theme or idea, reinforcing the song’s message.
Motif
The use of words that mimic sounds in lyrics, adding a vivid auditory effect to the song.
Onomatopoeia
The pairing of contradictory terms in lyrics to reveal a deeper or ironic truth.
Oxymoron
A statement in lyrics that seems contradictory yet reveals a truth, adding depth to the song’s meaning.
Paradox
Assigning human emotions to elements of nature in lyrics to enhance imagery or convey mood.
Pathetic Fallacy
Attributing human qualities to non-human elements in lyrics, enriching the imagery and emotional connection.
Personification
Four lines of lyrics that form a distinct unit, often with a rhyme scheme, contributing to the structure of the song.
Quatrain
A line or set of lines repeated at intervals throughout a song, serving as a thematic anchor or chorus.
Refrain
The pattern of rhymes at the end of each line in a song, often labeled with letters to denote which lines rhyme.
Rhyme Scheme
The use of ‘s’ or ‘sh’ sounds in lyrics to create a hissing or soothing sound, enhancing the song’s auditory texture.
Sibilance
A figure of speech comparing two different things using “like” or “as” in lyrics, enriching imagery.
Simile
A group of lines in a song that form a verse, serving as a building block of the song’s structure.
Stanza
An object, person, or situation in lyrics that represents something beyond its literal meaning deepening the song’s thematic layers.
Symbol
A figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole or vice versa in lyrics, for poetic effect.
Synecdoche
The overall attitude or mood conveyed by the lyrics, influenced by word choice and melody.
Tone
The deliberate presentation of something as less important than it actually is in lyrics, often for ironic effect.
Understatement
The sections of a song that tell the story or express the main ideas, distinct from the chorus or bridge.
Verse
A contrasting section that connects two parts of a song, often introducing a new melody or perspective.
Bridge
The repetitive and catchy part of a song, emphasizes the main theme or message.
Chorus
A memorable musical or lyrical phrase that captures the essence of the song, making it catchy.
Hook
A repeated chord progression or sequence in music that is catchy and distinctive.
Riff
The combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce chords with a pleasing effect.
Harmony
The sequence of musical notes that are musically satisfying and are considered the main theme of the song.
Melody
The speed at which a song is played, affecting its mood and style.
Tempo
The variations in loudness within a song, adding expression to the music.
Dynamics
The quality of a musical note or sound that distinguishes different types of sound production.
Timbre
The style of simultaneously convincing several independent melodies, each with its own importance.
Polyphony
Incorporating a portion of a sound recording into a new song, often used in hip-hop and electronic music.
Sampling
The use of notes that clash, creating a tension or conflict in the music before resolving.
Dissonance
