Onomatopoeia describing the sound of a musical string being plucked
Look up
twang in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Twang is anonomatopoeia originally used to describe the sound of a vibratingbow string after the arrow is released.[1] By extension, it applies to the similar vibration produced when thestring of a musical instrument is plucked, and similar sounds. The term came to be applied to anasalvocal resonation, and was historically used to describe "a disagreeable resonance".[1] Later, however, the term came to be more broadly associated with regional dialects, to the extent that in some locations, "a twang is a desirable commodity".[2]
Specific uses of the term include:
- A particular sharp vibrating sound characteristic of someelectric guitars.
- A high frequency singing sound especially affected bycountry singers. It allows for a higher vocal reach than would be possible using the standardguttural technique and can be used as an alternative tofalsetto singing.Willie Nelson almost always sings with a twang voice.
- Rock and roll guitaristDuane Eddy utilized the twang sound during his career; his major label debut was entitledHave 'Twangy' Guitar Will Travel.
- ^abHensleigh Wedgwood,A Dictionary of English Etymology: Q - Z (1865), p. 433.
- ^Jim Tushinski, Jim Van Buskirk,Identity Envy Wanting to Be Who We're Not: Creative Nonfiction by Queer Writers (2014), p. 27.
