beatboxing
Mouth-made music
Beatboxing is vocal percussion—creating drum sounds, rhythms, and musical beats using only the mouth, lips, tongue, and voice.
It emerged from hip-hop culture, where performers imitate drum machines and turntables.
A skilled beatboxer can layer multiple sounds simultaneously: She provided the beatboxing while he rapped.
Someone who beatboxes is a beatboxer.
Without prescribed technique
- cypherEncoded communication method
- MCVocal performer or host
- emceeCeremony host
- breakdanceAcrobatic street-style movement
B-girl · rap · battle · crew · block party · turntablism · DJ · underground
Without prescribed technique
- spontaneityActing without forethought
- creativityCapacity for original thought
- ad-libUnscripted speech or remark
- jammingBlocking or wedging forcefully
on-the-fly · unrehearsed · battle · cipher · call and response · variation · invention · expression
Rate of musical performance
- grooveNarrow cut or routine
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
- meterDevice that measures usage
- swingSuspended recreational seat
polyrhythm · backbeat · downbeat · upbeat · time signature · pattern · flow · pace
Managing exhalation deliberately
- voiceSound from throat
- lipsMouth's outer edges
- tongueOral muscle for taste
- hummingContinuous low-pitched sound
acapella · resonance · timbre · articulation · pharynx · vocalization · clicks · pops
Foot-operated percussion instrument
- snareDevice for catching prey
- hi-hatPedal-controlled cymbal pair
- bassDeep pitch or fish
- cymbalsClashing metal percussion
rimshot · tom · crash · ride · clap · finger snap · tongue click · drum fill
Forming successive strata
- overdubbingAdding layers to recordings
- live performanceUnrecorded staged entertainment
- pedalFoot-operated lever
- samplerSelection for trying
multitrack · build-up · arrangement · solo · one-man band · stacking · drop · breakdown
freestyle
Without prescribed technique
breakdance · B-girl · rap · battle · crew · block party · turntablism · DJ · underground · old school
freestyle
Without prescribed technique
- spontaneityActing without forethought
- creativityCapacity for original thought
- ad-libUnscripted speech or remark
jamming · on-the-fly · unrehearsed · battle · cipher · call and response · variation · invention · expression · instinctive
tempo
Rate of musical performance
- grooveNarrow cut or routine
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
- meterDevice that measures usage
swing · polyrhythm · backbeat · downbeat · upbeat · time signature · pattern · flow · pace · four-on-the-floor
breath control
Managing exhalation deliberately
humming · acapella · resonance · timbre · articulation · pharynx · vocalization · clicks · pops · inhalation
kick drum
Foot-operated percussion instrument
cymbals · rimshot · tom · crash · ride · clap · finger snap · tongue click · drum fill · breakbeat
layering
Forming successive strata
- overdubbingAdding layers to recordings
- live performanceUnrecorded staged entertainment
- pedalFoot-operated lever
sampler · multitrack · build-up · arrangement · solo · one-man band · stacking · drop · breakdown · verse
- Hip-Hoprapper, rappers, rhymes, lyrics, freestyle
- musical communicationsinging, humming, whistling, chanting, yodeling
- musicianshipsinging, playing, performing, practicing, harmonizing
- performance skillsmagic, illusions, sleight of hand, juggling, mime
- solo actssolo act, solo performance, one-man show, one-woman show, solo concert
- street performingsinging, juggling, magic tricks, miming, harmonica
beatboxingorchestral music
Music for full ensemble
classical composition · chamber music · DJ set · orchestral arrangement
beat, box, boxing, boxer, beats, boxed, beater, beatbox, beatboxer