Scat: meaning, definitions and examples

This term is used in jazz music to describe spontaneous, wordless vocalizations. It's for musicians creatively imitating instrumental sounds using their voices.

• During her solo, the singer broke into an energetic scat

This term is specific to jazz and describes the art of adding lyrics to pre-existing instrumental solos. It often involves complex rhythms and melodies.

• She performed a challenging vocalese to Miles Davis's trumpet solo

This is a broader term that can refer to any spontaneous, unplanned singing. It's not limited to jazz and can be used in various musical genres.

• The vocalist impressed everyone with his vocal improvisation during the performance

Primarily used in scientific or environmental contexts to refer to animal feces, especially when discussing wildlife.

• Researchers collected bear scat to study their diet

Commonly used when referring to small animals' or birds' feces. It is a general and neutral term often used in everyday language.

• The garden was full of bird droppings this morning

A formal term typically used in medical or scientific discussions to refer to human or animal waste. It can sound quite clinical and is not commonly used in casual conversation.

• Proper disposal of human excrement is essential for public health

Typically used in jazz music to describe the technique of singing improvised melodies and rhythms using non-sense syllables instead of actual words. It captures a lively and spontaneous feeling in music.

• She started to scat during her solo, adding an energetic vibe to the performance.
• The jazz band encouraged the audience to scat along with them.

Describes the general act of creating and singing melodies on the spot without preparation. It can be used in various music genres, not just jazz, to indicate creativity and spontaneity.

• The singer loves to improvise vocally during live shows to keep them fresh and exciting.
• During the rehearsal, he decided to improvise vocally, coming up with a new chorus melody.

Refers to making sound or singing, often with an emphasis on using the voice for warm-up exercises, or when producing sounds without words in music. It can also apply in non-musical contexts where making sounds with the voice is necessary.

• The vocal coach asked the students to vocalize scales for their warm-up.
• During the sound check, the artist began to vocalize to test the microphone.