percussiveness
Drum-like striking quality
The quality of being percussive—having the sharp, striking impact characteristic of drums or other instruments played by hitting.
Percussiveness describes sounds with sudden attack and quick decay rather than sustained tones: The percussiveness of her piano style gave the piece an aggressive edge.
The term extends beyond music to describe any sharp, rhythmic quality in speech, writing, or movement.
Forceful impact or stoppage
Rhythmic pulse or strike
- pulseArterial blood throb
- tempoRate of musical performance
- grooveNarrow cut or routine
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
polyrhythm · cadence · meter · pattern · backbeat · downbeat · upbeat · swing
Aggressive act against another
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- brightnessDegree of light emitted
- sharpnessKeenness of edge, mind, or image
- crispnessSnappy, firm texture
snap · ping · crack · pop · click · clatter · rattle · shimmer
Struck membrane instruments
- cymbalsClashing metal percussion
- xylophonePitched percussion with bars
- marimbaTuned bar percussion instrument
- vibraphoneMotorized resonator percussion
glockenspiel · timpani · congas · bongos · djembe · tabla · cajon · tambourine
strike
Forceful impact or stoppage
pound · bang · slam · crash · smash · knock · thud · whack · bash · wallop
beat
Rhythmic pulse or strike
syncopation · polyrhythm · cadence · meter · pattern · backbeat · downbeat · upbeat · swing · breakbeat
attack
Aggressive act against another
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- brightnessDegree of light emitted
- sharpnessKeenness of edge, mind, or image
crispness · snap · ping · crack · pop · click · clatter · rattle · shimmer · sizzle
drums
Struck membrane instruments
- cymbalsClashing metal percussion
- xylophonePitched percussion with bars
- marimbaTuned bar percussion instrument
vibraphone · glockenspiel · timpani · congas · bongos · djembe · tabla · cajon · tambourine · castanets
percussivenessmelodiousness
Pleasing musical quality
smoothness · fluidity · legato · mellowness · resonance
percussivenesslegato
Unbroken musical phrasing
connectedness · continuity · seamlessness · portamento · cantabile
percussivenesslyricism
Expressive, melodic quality
fluidity · mellifluousness · cantabile · melodiousness · silkiness
concussion, repercussion, percussion, repercussions, concussions, percussive, percussionist, percussions, concussive