Okuzeka
Music vocabulary · Performance and Practice

Accompaniment

Meaning in music, with examples

/əˈkʌmpənimənt/nounCommon term

In music, accompaniment means: The music that supports a main melody or soloist, for example the piano part under a singer or the chords a guitarist plays behind a violin.

In Turkish: eşlik, akompanyman

How it is used

You play or provide accompaniment, or sing 'with piano accompaniment'. The verb is 'accompany': 'She accompanied the choir on piano'. The musician is an 'accompanist'. Exam pieces are often listed 'for violin and piano accompaniment'.

Example sentences

  1. The accompaniment should stay quiet so the singer's words come through clearly.

  2. Each student performs one song with piano accompaniment.

Common collocations

  • piano accompaniment
  • with accompaniment
  • provide accompaniment
  • guitar accompaniment
  • accompaniment track
  • melodyA sequence of single notes that forms a recognisable musical line, often the part that people remember and sing along to.
  • soloA section of music played or sung by one performer, often featured above the rest of the band, or a whole piece written for a single performer.
  • vocalsThe singing parts of a piece of music, especially in pop, rock and jazz. The main singer sings the lead vocals, and others sing the backing vocals.
  • arpeggioThe notes of a chord played one after another, going up or down, instead of all at the same time.
  • sight-readTo play or sing a piece of written music correctly the first time you see it, without having practised it before.

More terms: Performance and Practice

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