vamping
Playing repeated chords
Vamping is the act of improvising or filling time, especially in music where a performer repeats a simple chord progression or rhythmic pattern while waiting for a cue or another musician.
The term extends beyond music to any situation where someone stalls or ad-libs: The host kept vamping until the guest arrived.
In a different sense, vamping describes seductive behavior, derived from vamp as a femme fatale who uses charm to manipulate others.
Repeated musical phrase
- jamCooked fruit spread
- ad-libUnscripted speech or remark
- extemporizeSpeak without preparation
- freestyleWithout prescribed technique
comping · fill · noodling · spontaneous · off-the-cuff · impromptu · unscripted · on-the-fly
Suspended recreational seat
- bebopFast, complex jazz style
- grooveNarrow cut or routine
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
- compingImprovised chordal accompaniment
rhythm section · bassline · piano · chord progression · blue note · walking bass · ensemble · solo
Intentional delay tactics
- stretchingExtending muscles or material
- paddingMaterial for cushioning
- holdingMaintaining physical possession
- scene changeTheatrical location shift
covering · buying time · stage business · dead air · marking time · transitional · bridging · placeholder
Playful romantic attention
- coquetryPlayful amorous behavior
- teasingPlayful, mild ridicule
- allureAttractive, tempting quality
- charmAttractive personal quality
femme fatale · smolder · provocative · sultry · enticing · siren · temptress · coy
Repairing by covering
- mendingRestoring damaged items
- refurbishingRestoring to good condition
- cobblingFixing or making shoes
- fixing upRestoring or improving something
restoring · salvaging · makeshift · jury-rigging · restyling · updating · reworking · freshening
riff
Repeated musical phrase
- jamCooked fruit spread
- ad-libUnscripted speech or remark
- extemporizeSpeak without preparation
freestyle · comping · fill · noodling · spontaneous · off-the-cuff · impromptu · unscripted · on-the-fly · unrehearsed
swing
Suspended recreational seat
- bebopFast, complex jazz style
- grooveNarrow cut or routine
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
comping · rhythm section · bassline · piano · chord progression · blue note · walking bass · ensemble · solo · scat
stalling
Intentional delay tactics
- stretchingExtending muscles or material
- paddingMaterial for cushioning
- holdingMaintaining physical possession
scene change · covering · buying time · stage business · dead air · marking time · transitional · bridging · placeholder · underscoring
flirtation
Playful romantic attention
charm · femme fatale · smolder · provocative · sultry · enticing · siren · temptress · coy · batting eyelashes
patching
Repairing by covering
- mendingRestoring damaged items
- refurbishingRestoring to good condition
- cobblingFixing or making shoes
fixing up · restoring · salvaging · makeshift · jury-rigging · restyling · updating · reworking · freshening · sprucing up
- improvisingad-lib, ad-libbing, riff, riffing, jamming
- playing techniquespicking, arpeggiated, fingerpicking, spiccato, block chords
- improvisationimprovised, impromptu, ad lib, freestyle, ad-lib
- musical notationforte, score, piano, sheet music, notation
- musical termsadagio, andante, allegro, lento, largo
- guitar techniquesshredding, fingerpicking, bends, arpeggios, hammer-on
vampingmelody
Pleasing sequence of notes
melodic line · theme · main theme · solo · lead line
vampingunderstating
Representing as less significant
restraint · modesty · demureness · playing it cool · subtlety
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- vampire batHematophagous flying mammal
- vampire fangsPointed teeth for biting
- vampire costumeUndead creature disguise
- vampire biteFanged creature's feeding wound
- energy vampireOne who exhausts others emotionally