The Elements of Music: Timbre
Below is a chart of adjectives that can be used to describe sound or the sounds of the various instruments. You can use this list as you listen to the various instruments to describe their sounds (and remember what they sound like).
Words to Describe Sound | |
File Size: | 11 kb |
File Type: |
Violin (Played with a Bow) (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 459 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Violin (Pizzicato) (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 173 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Viola (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 840 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Cello (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 758 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Double Bass (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 582 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Harp (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 917 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Flute (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 653 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Piccolo (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 397 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Oboe (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 900 kb |
File Type: | wav |
English Horn (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 554 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Bassoon (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 717 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Contrabassoon (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 640 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Clarinet (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 494 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Bass Clarinet (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 811 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Soprano Saxophone (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 624 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Alto Saxophone (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 451 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Tenor Saxophone (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 478 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Baritone Saxophone (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 555 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Trumpet (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 537 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Piccolo Trumpet (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 805 kb |
File Type: | wav |
French Horn (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 699 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Trombone (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 798 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Baritone/Euphonium (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 847 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Tuba (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 557 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Timpani (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 466 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Snare Drum (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 92 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Bass Drum (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 21 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |
Crash Cymbals (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 219 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Suspended Cymbal (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 339 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |
Tambourine (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 207 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Triangle (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 216 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Bongos (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 588 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Congas (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 554 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Claves (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 369 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Woodblock (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 237 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Guiro (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 329 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Maracas/Shaker (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 321 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Castanets (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 242 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Cabasa (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 492 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |
Vibraslap (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 37 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |
Rainstick (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 694 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |
Cowbell (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 150 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Wind Chimes/Mark Tree (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 482 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |
Bell Tree (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 67 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |
Gong/Tam Tam (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 453 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Orchestra Bells/Glockenspiel (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 734 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Xylophone (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 452 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Vibraphone (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 800 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Marimba (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 629 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Orchestra Chimes/Tubular Bells (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 727 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Piano (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 833 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Drum Set (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 974 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Electric Guitar (Clean, NO Distortion) (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 881 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Electric Guitar (Distorted) (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 430 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |
Bass Guitar (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 836 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Electric Keyboard (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 902 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Electric Piano (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 913 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Synthesizer (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 567 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Electronic Drum Set (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 550 kb |
File Type: | wav |
Electronic Wind Instrument (Sound Clip) | |
File Size: | 853 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |