unpitched
Lacking definite tone
Unpitched describes sounds or musical instruments that lack a definite pitch—drums, cymbals, and other percussion that produce rhythm without distinct notes.
In another sense, unpitched means not yet proposed or presented: an unpitched idea, unpitched clients.
A tent that remains unpitched never got set up.
Carved printing matrix
- triangleThree-sided plane figure
- tambourineJingling handheld percussion instrument
- castanetsHandheld clicking percussion
- clavesPercussion stick pair
guiro · maracas · cowbell · cabasa · shaker · rainstick · slapstick · whip
Rhythmic palm strikes
- stompingTreading heavily, forcefully
- slappingStriking with open palm
- pattingLight repeated touching
- thumpingHeavy, dull beating
pounding · snapping · beatbox · hands · palms · fingers · footwork · chest
Unwanted auditory disturbance
- textureSurface tactile quality
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
- overtonesImplicit secondary meanings
- harmonicsFrequencies above the fundamental
color · sonority · warmth · brightness · sharpness · roughness · depth · attack
woodblock
Carved printing matrix
- triangleThree-sided plane figure
- tambourineJingling handheld percussion instrument
- castanetsHandheld clicking percussion
claves · guiro · maracas · cowbell · cabasa · shaker · rainstick · slapstick · whip · ratchet
clapping
Rhythmic palm strikes
thumping · pounding · snapping · beatbox · hands · palms · fingers · footwork · chest · thighs
crash
Sudden violent impact
clang · clatter · whoosh · hiss · scrape · scratch · swish · rustle · snap · crackle
noise
Unwanted auditory disturbance
- textureSurface tactile quality
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
- overtonesImplicit secondary meanings
harmonics · color · sonority · warmth · brightness · sharpness · roughness · depth · attack · decay
beat
Rhythmic pulse or strike
pattern · syncopation · meter · time · pace · flow · backbeat · downbeat · polyrhythm · subdivision
rest
Cessation of activity
repeat · bracket · brace · ledger · stave · lines · spaces · system · stemless