Positive words to describe music, sounds and melody | synonyms for music

Explore some of the most uplifting words associated with music. From upbeat tunes to inspiring melodies, take a look at what kind of positive music words can be used to brighten up your writing, music and days!

Even though “writing about music is like dancing about architecture” like Gerald Klickstein said, we can always try to do that.

That's why I compiled this clear and groovy list of positive words to describe music and sounds.

List of positive music words to describe sound, melody and musicality

Music has the power to bring out a range of emotions and feelings in us. Whether it's joy, sorrow, or something in between, there are words that can describe the feeling of music. Here we'll explore some of the positive words associated with music.

May these descriptive music words help you in your contemporary and major writing journeys!

MUSIC WORDS THAT START WITH A

Accompaniment music or musical part which partners or supports a group, instrument, voice or work of art; something that complements, embellishes or supplements something else.

Acoustic of or pertaining to sound, the sense of hearing or the science of sounds; designed to aid in hearing or carry or control sound; auditory; naturally produced by an instrument that does not use electricity; an agent or medicine to assist hearing; the way in which the structure of a room or building affects the qualities of spoken or musical sound.

Air of or pertaining to the transmission or broadcast of television or radio signal; to or to be broadcast on radio or television; a short melodious song or tune (especially in the tenor or soprano range); a music solo without or with accompaniment.

Airy lofty; aerial; spacious; delicate or light; merry; light-hearted.

Ambient encircling; surrounding; encompassing on all sides; atmospheric; creating or evoking and atmosphere; music intended to serve as an modest and/or relaxing complement to other activities; atmospheric music that is characterized by quiet instrumental melodies; an encompassing or enveloping atmosphere.

Anthem an uplifting or rousing song identified with a particular cause, group or body; a hymn or song of loyalty, devotion or praise.

Aria a song or air (especially musical piece written for a solo voice with instrumental accompaniment); a melody or tune.

Ariose characterized by melody (especially as distinguished from recitative or harmony); song-like; melodic.

Arioso a short melodic vocal solo or style used in oratorio or opera that is more melodic than recitative.

Assonance harmony or agreement of things; the resemblance or repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds (especially in poetry or literary).

Atmospheric intended to evoke or creating a distinctive emotional mood, tone or aesthetic quality; existing in the atmosphere.

Avant-garde radically original or new; daring; modern; any group of people who invent or promote new concepts or techniques (especially in the arts).

MUSIC WORDS THAT START WITH B 

Background mood boosting or quiet music played as an accompaniment.

Banging great or surpassing in size; excellent; brilliant; exciting; highly attractive; powerful and energizing music.

Baroque fantastic, detailed and ornate in style; complex and beautiful: the style of architecture, art and music in the 17th century.

Bass having a low or deep tone n. an instrument that plays low spectrum sound tones; a deep sound or tone.

Beat make a rhythmic sound (especially by percussion); a blow or series of blows that produces sound or rhythm; a main rhythmic unit or accent in music or poetry.

Bell-like producing a clear musical sound that resembles the tone of a bell.

Bombastic superabundant; rich and showy; high-sounding; extremely good, delicious or pleasurable.

Booming lively; active; advancing; resounding; deep, resonant and loud (especially of a sound).

Boomy same as booming.

Bop to dance or move to the beat of music; move energetically; to playfully or gently hit someone or something

Breath the ability, act or process of breathing; the air that is inhaled and/or exhaled; spirit or vitality; life or life force (archaic); a small amount of something (for example wind); a hint, sign or suggestion; a slight or delicate movement of air.

Breathy causing or producing an audible sound of breathing (for example as a result of exercise).

Bright high and clear; full of hope and promise; uplifting; cheerful; happy.

MUSIC WORDS THAT START WITH C

Cadence balanced and rhythmic flow of language, voice or written text (especially in poetry, prose or verse); the regular and rhythmic rise and fall of the voice; harmony in motions.

Call to announce or say with clear and carrying voice; to give the signals or orders; a series of directions rhythmically called out to square dancers.

Canorous musical; richly melodious; resonant; tuneful.

Canticle a hymn, chant or song (especially derived from the Bible).

Cappella music or sung without instrumental accompaniment (especially in choral music).

Carol to sing in a joyful, cheerful and loud manner; to celebrate or praise in or as if in song; a song of joy or praise (especially for Christmas); a ballad of joy or religious song; an old round dance (usually accompanied by singing).

Catchy easily or instantly memorable (especially a melody, tune or voice).

Chamber being, performing or relating to chamber music (played usually by small group musicians with few musical instruments).

Chant intone or to sing to a chant; to celebrate or praise in song; say repeatedly with a melodic voice; a song; a melody; a short series of melodic words or syllables that are sung on or intoned to the same note.

Cheerful having life or vigor or spirit; uplifting; cheery; contented; happy; joyful; lively; animated.

Chime to produce music or musical sound by striking bells; to welcome, call or send by chiming; to make known or signal by chiming; to be in harmony; a bell or set of bells tuned to a musical scale; the harmonious sound of musical instruments (especially bells).

Choral performed or written for performance by a chorus or choir; of or pertaining to a chorus or choir.

Chorale a harmonized hymn (especially one for organ); a choir or chorus.

Chorus sing in a choir or the chorus; a group of singers and/or dancers; a catchy part of song or hymn recurring more than one time in the song.

Classical of or relating to music in the educated European tradition, such as opera and symphony, as opposed to folk or popular music; of recognized excellence or authority; adhering to established standards and principles; of or relating to the most highly developed stage of an earlier culture and its civilization.

Clear easy to perceive, understand, or interpret; bright; complete; full.

Consonant characterized by agreement or harmony; harmonious in tone or sound; being in accord.

Contemporary of the present age; modern; current; someone or something that is nearly the same age as another.

Becoming a great guitar player starts with setting aside 5 minutes a day. Will Ripley

MUSIC WORDS THAT START WITH D

Danceable having a rhythm, style and melody that people can dance to; able to be used for dancing.

Deep full in tone and low in pitch (of sound).

Descant to sing melodiously or play a descant; a counterpoint sung or ornamental melody added above basic melody or theme; a double song; the highest part sung or the upper voice in part music.

Ditty to sing or warble a little tune; a short and simple tune, song or verse.

Dramatic theatrical; striking or sensational in effect or appearance.

Dulcet pleasing or sweet to the ear or taste; melodious; harmonious; very pleasant in a gentle way; agreeable.

Dynamic active; changing; energetic; powerful.

MUSIC WORDS THAT START WITH E

Eclectic one who selects seemingly best of various ideas or styles.

Electronic of or relating to music made or altered by electronic means or instruments.

Energetic displaying or having great energy, activity or vitality; lively.

Entertaining amusing; pleasing.

Euphonic pleasing or easy in sound or to the ear; harmonious.

Euphonious pleasing, sweet or agreeable in sound; pleasant and agreeable to the ear.

Evensong a song or hymn sung in the evening (especially in the Anglican or Episcopal Church).

Evergreen something that remains seemingly always fresh, interesting or popular.

Experimental founded or based on experiment, experience, untested ideas or techniques; empirical; radically innovative and new (especially art or artistic technique).

Explosive a dramatic and sudden start, increase or growth.

MUSIC WORDS THAT START WITH F

Facile acting, working, done or performed with ease and fluency; expressing yourself clearly, effectively and readily; quick; ready.

Fast capable of moving or acting quickly or at high speed; swift; acquired or accomplished with little effort and in relatively little time; involving or engaging in activities characterized by excitement.

Flawless perfect; free from defects and flaws.

Fluid smoothly graceful, elegant or flowing; able or likely to change.

Forte played loudly, strongly or powerfully.

Fresh new; clear and bright; clean; fruitful; first-rate; refreshing; youthful.

Fugue a contrapuntal musical composition in which a short melody is played in number of voices, each voice introduced in turn by playing the melody; anything that resembles a fugue in structure (especially in arts).

Full totally accepted, empowered or qualified; being at the peak of maturity or development; rich and full of emotion; complete in every way; of maximum degree or highest degree or quality; total; entire; having depth and body.

Full-toned having a resonant and strong tone.

Funky having a strong and uplifting dance rhythm; cool, stylish and modern in a striking or unconventional way.

Fusion a style of music that combines or blends different music genres (especially jazz and rock).

MUSIC WORDS THAT START WITH G

Golden marked by wealth, prosperity, richness, splendor, creativity or peace; radiant; shining; very favorable or advantageous; very prosperous and happy (especially of a period).

Grand-sounding impressive, majestic and/or epic.

Groovy wonderful; marvelous; very pleasing; cool; neat; interesting; very chic; very good.

Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent ― Victor Hugo TWEET THIS

MUSIC WORDS THAT START WITH H

Happy joyful; cheerful; felicitous.

Harmonic of or pertaining to harmony; pleasing and melodious to the ear; concordant.

Harmonious melodious; musically pleasing; tuneful; having components appropriately or pleasingly combined; agreeing in feeling or action; concordant; consonant. 

Headbanging a type of movement associated with music that makes you want to move your head around because it sounds so good and/or pleasing (especially rock or heavy metal).

Healing soothing; restorative; therapeutic; curative.

Heroic brave; courageous; daring; noble; majestic, grand or impressive; larger than life.

High-flown exceedingly exalted, eloquent or lofty; elevated in style or nature; grand-sounding.

High-sounding having an elevated, grand or pompous tone; resonant.

Hit a popular or successful thing or venture (especially a song or film).

Homophonic characterized by or having a single melodic line with accompaniment; unisonous.

Honeyed sweet; sugary; syrupy; pleasing to the senses; sweet and rich in smell or taste; soft and soothing (especially tone of voice that is intended to please).

Hook a catchy motif, melody or chorus; a means of attracting attention or interest.

Hymn a song or ode of praise, adoration or joy or thanksgiving to deity or God.

Hyped up very exciting; being very excited and anxious while unable to be calm.

Hypnotic attracting interest as if by spell; alluring; something that causes feeling of funniness, puzzled or dazzled.

MUSIC WORDS THAT START WITH I

Improvised performed or created spontaneously or without preparation; created, done, made or performed using what is available; makeshift.

In tune with correct intonation or pitch; in harmony or agreement.

Inflection alteration in tone or pitch of the voice (especially in speaking or singing); departure from the monotone.

Instrumental serving, acting or contributing as an aid or means; helpful; conductive; serviceable; made, written for or performed with an instrument.

Intonation the ability to sing or play notes in tune; rise and fall of the pitch of the voice while speaking.

Intricate elaborate; having a great deal of complexity and fine detail.

Intro the process or act of introducing or bringing to notice (especially something new); a new or fresh proposal; a preface; a guide.

MUSIC WORDS THAT START WITH J

Jam to play music (especially by improvising); an improvised music performance or session.

Jaunty stylish; dapper; brisk; natty; having a lively, cheerful, buoyant or self-confident air.

Jazzy resembling jazz in form, style, nature or rhythm; active; lively; flashy; fancy; showy.

One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain. Bob Marley TWEET THIS

MUSIC WORDS THAT START WITH L

Lay a song; ballad; tune.

Lied a German art song for piano and solo voice (especially ballad).

Light bright; lightweight (as not heavy); gentle; free from troubles or worries; blithe; nimble.

Lilt to sing, say or play with or in a cheerful, lively and rhythmic manner; to move with lightness, animation and buoyancy; a light happy song, tune or dance; a lively and cheerful manner of speaking (especially in which pitch of the voice varies pleasantly); light, brisk and animated manner of walking, moving or motion.

Lilting buoyant; cheerful and lively; characterized by a rhythmical cadence or swing.

Liquid pure, clear and flowing (especially of a sound); harmonious; unconstrained and smooth in movement or quality.

Live that is alive; having active properties; being energized; wide awake; live performance. 

Lively full, of life, spirit and energy; refreshing; invigorating; brisk.

Lofty exalted or elevated in character; pompous; affecting grandness; high; displaying or having great nobility or dignity.

Lyric lyrical; melodious.

Lyrical having an artistically expressive or beautiful quality; melodious; highly enthusiastic; rhapsodic; lyric.

MUSIC WORDS THAT START WITH M

Magniloquent lofty and bombastic in style or speech; grandiloquent.

Major great in number, scope, size, extent or effect; greater than others; main; based on a major scale, tending to produce bright, happy and joyful effect or feeling; one who is superior in ability, rank or importance; a major interval, key or scale (in music).

Masterful very skillful or powerful; expert; in the manner of master; fit to command or lead.

Mellifluous sweet and smooth (especially sound, tone or writing style); flowing sweetly, smoothly or like honey.

Mellow soft, juicy and sweet; soft and rich in quality; calm; relaxed; having a pleasing and full flavor through proper aging.

Melodic of or pertaining to melody; tuneful; melodious.

Melodious tuneful; having a pleasant sound or melody.

Melody a pleasing or agreeable arrangement or succession of sounds; a poem suitable for setting to singing or music.

Minor  based on a minor scale; a minor interval, key or scale (in music).

Modern pertaining to the current style and time; avant-garde; ahead of the times of current era.

Monophonic having or consisting a single melodic line.

Music any pleasing sound, tune or song.

Musical melodious; pleasing to the ear; a show, film or performance which involves music.

Musicality musical talent or sensitivity; the condition or quality of being musical.

Muzak easy listening music (especially a background music that is played continuously and quietly in public places).

MUSIC WORDS THAT START WITH O

Ode a lyric poem expressive of enthusiastic or exalted emotion (especially with stanza form) meant to be sung.

Opera a theatrical presentation in which a showy and dramatic performance is set to music.

Orchestral relating to an orchestra; harmonious.

Orotund deep, full and rich in sound; sonorous.

MUSIC WORDS THAT START WITH P

Paean a song or hymn of joyful exultation, praise or triumph.

Passionate having or showing powerful emotions; amorous.

Percussive rhythmic.

Pianissimo passage or portion of music that is played very softly or soft as possible.

Piece a written artistic or musical.

Piping the act of playing on a pipe; music or sound produced by a pipe when played.

Plainsong a form of monophonic chant, sung in unison using the Gregorian scale and sung in various Christian churches (especially in Roman Catholic Church).

Playful full of high spirits and fun; humorous; experimental.

Pleasant-sounding producing an agreeable and likeable melody, sound or tune.

Poetic exhibiting the rhythmical or imaginative quality of poetry.

Polyphonic having two or more independent but harmonically related sounds, voices or melodic parts sounding together.

Pompous magnificent; bombastic; ceremonious.

Popular widely appreciated, liked or approved.

Progressive advancing.

Psalm a sacred song or poem (especially to praise a deity).

MUSIC WORDS THAT START WITH R

Recitative a style or form of song in which words are resembling rhythms of normal speech.

Refined polished.

Refrain a chorus or burden recurring at regular intervals in the course of a song or ballad, usually at the end of each stanza.

Resonance prolongation and intensification of sound, especially of a musical tone.

Resonant deep and strong in tone.

Resounding

Reverberant

Rhythmic

Rhythmical

Rich

Ringing

Riveting

Rockin'

Rollicking

Romantic

Round

Run

MUSIC WORDS THAT START WITH S

Session

Shrill

Shout

Silver-toned

Silvery

Sing

Singable

Singing

Soft

Song

Songful

Sonic

Sonorous

Soothing

Sophisticated

Soprano

Soulful

Staccato

Stentorian

Stentorious

Strain

Strong

Sweet-sounding

Sweet-toned

Swing

Symphonic

Symphonious

Symphony

MUSIC WORDS THAT START WITH T

Tempo the speed at which a music or passage of music is played or should be played; the speed or rate of activity, motion or rhythm; pace.

Throbbing beating or pounding with a strong, regular rhythm; pulsating.

Tight a song where notes are being played and sung exactly on tempo.

Timbre the distinctive character or quality of someone or something (especially musical sound or voice as distinct from its pitch and intensity); a tambourine.

Timeless ageless; classic.

Tonal relating to the tone of music, writing or color.

Track a recording of one song or piece of music.

Treble singer with a soprano or treble voice; the highest of the four principal parts in music.

Tubular long, round, and hollow like a tube; sounding like tubular bells.

Tumid fulsome or grandeous in style.

Tune to make better or more precise; a melody; harmony; agreement.

Tuneful melodious; harmonious; musical.

MUSIC WORDS THAT START WITH U

Unison agreement; concord; harmony.

Up-tempo having animated, lively and/or fast tempo (especially in music).

Upbeat happy; optimistic; having a fast and positive tone.

Uplifting emotionally, morally or spiritually elevating; inspiring hope or happiness.

MUSIC WORDS THAT START WITH V

Verse to familiarize by experience or study; to educate or teach about; put into or compose verses; a piece of poetry (especially in which the lines do not end in rhymes); the work or art of a poet.

Vibrant lively; vigorous; bright; resonating; created as a result of vibration.

Vocal having or produced by a voice; resounding; outspoken.

Volume the amplitude of a sound.

MUSIC WORDS THAT START WITH W

Warble to sing with trills, quavers, runs or other melodic embellishments; the act of singing.

Warm characterized by warmth of feeling like generosity, kindness or sympathy; friendly; loving; passionate; caring; characterized by excitement, liveliness or enthusiasm; fresh or recently made; imparting or preserving heat 

Wild growing, living or occurring in a natural state; highly enthusiastic; fantastic 

Woodnote a natural or wild musical tone resembling the song of a bird.

Common synonyms for music

Tune, notes, strains, tones, chords, composition, symphony, hymn, sound, air, melody, theme, subject, line, part, song, jingle, instrumental and piece.

ps. Check also 100 positive quotes about music.