beatbox
Lips make drums
Beatbox is vocal percussion—using the mouth, lips, tongue, and voice to imitate drum machines, turntables, and other musical sounds.
The term works as both noun and verb: He's an incredible beatbox or She can beatbox better than most DJs.
Beatboxing emerged from hip-hop culture in the 1980s and has developed into a competitive performance art with complex techniques for layering sounds.
Without prescribed technique
- cypherEncoded communication method
- battleArmed military engagement
- b-boyMale street dancer
- breakdanceAcrobatic street-style movement
Oral opening
- lipsMouth's outer edges
- tongueOral muscle for taste
- teethEnamel-covered chewing structures
- breathAir taken in
voice · throat · diaphragm · humming · vocalization · looping · layering · amplification
Rhythmic pulse or strike
- tempoRate of musical performance
- grooveNarrow cut or routine
- patternRecurring arrangement or template
- loopCurve closing on itself
timing · syncopation · backbeat · downbeat · offbeat · pulse · meter · swing
Foot-delivered strike
- snareDevice for catching prey
- hi-hatPedal-controlled cymbal pair
- cymbalStruck metal percussion disc
- tomMale cat or turkey
crash · clap · snap · pop · click · stomp · shaker · cowbell
Cabinet for displaying items
- competitionStruggle for supremacy
- battleArmed military engagement
- jamCooked fruit spread
- improvisationSpontaneous, unplanned creation
solo · duet · stage · audience · routine · set · elimination · judges
freestyle
Without prescribed technique
breakdance · MC · emcee · crew · rap · flow · turntablism · DJ · boombox · old-school
mouth
Oral opening
breath · voice · throat · diaphragm · humming · vocalization · looping · layering · amplification · mic
beat
Rhythmic pulse or strike
loop · timing · syncopation · backbeat · downbeat · offbeat · pulse · meter · swing · flow
kick
Foot-delivered strike
tom · crash · clap · snap · pop · click · stomp · shaker · cowbell · woodblock
showcase
Cabinet for displaying items
- competitionStruggle for supremacy
- battleArmed military engagement
- jamCooked fruit spread
improvisation · solo · duet · stage · audience · routine · set · elimination · judges · call-and-response
- performingperform, sing, play, act, dance
- vocal techniquesvibrato, falsetto, head voice, chest voice, mixed voice
- beatboxingfreestyle, cipher, routine, tongue click, breath control
- Electro-Funkelectro, funk groove, funk beat, synth bass, drum machine
- musicmusic, song, songs, singing, singer
- music genresblues, pop, jazz, rock, classical
beatboxinstrumental music
Music without vocals
live band · drum kit · synthesizer · turntablism · acoustic guitar
beatboxdrum machine
Electronic percussion simulator
electronic beats · digital sampling · sequencer · MIDI · backing track