弾(ひ)き語(がた)り

ひきがたり
noun
playing and singing at the same time (esp. solo)
musicentertainment
1. playing and singing at the same time (esp. solo)
A solo performance in which one person both plays an instrument (typically guitar or piano) and sings. The performer accompanies themselves, with no separate vocalist or backing band.
ギターで弾(ひ)き語(がた)りをする。
I sing while playing the guitar.
彼女(かのじょ)のピアノ弾(ひ)き語(がた)りは心(こころ)に響(ひび)いた。
Her piano-and-vocal performance struck a chord with me.
ライブハウスでは若(わか)いミュージシャンが弾(ひ)き語(がた)りで自作(じさく)の歌(うた)を披露(ひろう)していた。
At the live house, young musicians were performing their own songs solo on instrument and vocals.

Compound of 弾(ひ)く (to play a stringed/keyed instrument) + 語(かた)る (to narrate, recite). The 語(かた)る element preserves an older sense of "singing a narrative," though today it covers any singing accompanied by self-played instrument.

Common collocations

  • ギター弾(ひ)き語(がた)り: solo guitar-and-vocal performance
  • ピアノ弾(ひ)き語(がた)り: solo piano-and-vocal performance
  • 弾(ひ)き語(がた)りライブ: a solo singer-musician live show
  • 弾(ひ)き語(がた)りで歌(うた)う: to sing while accompanying oneself

Similar words

  • 弾(ひ)く: to play (a stringed/keyed instrument) — just the playing
  • 歌(うた)う: to sing — just the singing
  • アコースティックライブ: acoustic live — overlapping but broader; may have multiple performers

Related Words

Compare: 弾(ひ)く (to play)
Compare: 歌(うた)う (to sing)
Compare: シンガーソングライター (singer-songwriter (a musician who writes and performs their own songs))
general
Added 2026.6.1 11:13 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
28500/28503_hikigatari