Vocabulary · Free time
Music in English
A2
Music in English: instruments, music styles, singers and bands, concerts and the verbs you need to talk about the music you like. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
Instruments
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| guitar(n.)“I play the guitar.” | an instrument with six strings | /ɡɪˈtɑː/ |
| piano(n.) | a big instrument with black and white keys | /piˈænəʊ/ |
| drums(n.) | instruments you hit with sticks | /drʌmz/ |
| violin(n.) | a small string instrument played with a bow | /ˌvaɪəˈlɪn/ |
| flute(n.) | a thin pipe you blow across | /fluːt/ |
| saxophone(n.) | a curved metal instrument used in jazz | /ˈsæksəfəʊn/ |
| trumpet(n.) | a bright brass instrument with three valves | /ˈtrʌmpɪt/ |
Music styles
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| rock(n.) | loud music with electric guitars | /rɒk/ |
| pop(n.) | popular music with catchy songs | /pɒp/ |
| jazz(n.) | music with a free, swinging rhythm | /dʒæz/ |
| classical(adj.) | serious music by composers like Mozart | /ˈklæsɪkəl/ |
| rap(n.) | words spoken fast over a beat | /ræp/ |
| hip-hop(n.) | street music and culture that includes rap | /ˈhɪphɒp/ |
| electronic(adj.) | music made with computers and machines | /ɪˌlekˈtrɒnɪk/ |
People and performances
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| singer(n.) | a person who uses their voice to perform | /ˈsɪŋə/ |
| band(n.) | a group of musicians | /bænd/ |
| musician(n.) | a person who plays music | /mjuːˈzɪʃən/ |
| concert(n.) | a live music show | /ˈkɒnsət/ |
| album(n.) | a collection of songs released together | /ˈælbəm/ |
| song(n.) | a short piece of music with words | /sɒŋ/ |
| lyrics(n.) | the words of a song | /ˈlɪrɪks/ |
Verbs
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| to play (instrument)(v.) | to make music with an instrument | /pleɪ/ |
| to sing(v.) | to make music with your voice | /sɪŋ/ |
| to listen to(v.) | to pay attention to sounds | /ˈlɪsən tuː/ |
| to dance(v.) | to move your body to music | /dɑːns/ |
A common mistake
Play the tennis ❌: the goes with instruments, not sports
With an instrument, the usual form is play the guitar (play guitar is also common, especially in the US). With sports, there is no article: play tennis, not play the tennis.
Practice quiz
Going further
The “Music” topic is part of the contest vocabulary
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Frequently asked questions
How do you say you play an instrument in English?+
Say I play the + instrument: I play the guitar, I play the piano, I play the drums. Usually you use the with instruments (but not with sports). You can also hear I play guitar, especially in the US. For your voice, say I sing.
What is the difference between a song and music?+
Music is the general word, and it is uncountable (you cannot count it). A song is one piece of music with words. I listen to music. / This song is great.
How do you say you like music in English?+
Say I like music or I love music. To name a style: I like rock, I like pop, I like classical music. You can also say My favourite music is…
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/vocabulary/music
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.