Musical Terms Beginning With V

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Variations

A piece of music that copies the theme played before it and changes it so that it has a different mood or sound.

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Venu

One of the ancient transverse flutes of Indian classical music, typically made from bamboo

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Vibraphone

A percussion instrument that looks like a xylophone but has metal bars on top and motor-driven hollow bars hanging straight down from the top bars so that the sound will last longer and contain vibrato.

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Vibrato

A change in the tone of a certain pitch so that it sounds warmer and fuller.

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Vihuela

A 15th-century fretted plucked Spanish string instrument, that is shaped like a guitar but tuned like a lute

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Vina

An Indian stringed musical instrument

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Viol

One of a family of string instruments developed during the Renaissance, and popular in the 16th and 17th centuries, but eventually replaced in popularity by the violin. Viols have a hollow wooden body with a flat back and sloping shoulders; and six strings streched along a finger board with frets. The viol is played with a bow.

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Viola

The tenor instrument of the violin family. It has four strings.

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Violin

A four-stringed instrument. Has a shallow body, and is played by holding it under the chin and moving a bow over the strings.

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Virtuoso

A very good musician. For example, a virtuoso violin player.

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Vivace

Italian for “full of life.” A lively tempoComposers often used the term to designate a mood rather than a tempo, such as a more vivacious approach to the performance.

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