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.
ギターで弾き語りをする。
I sing while playing the guitar.
彼女のピアノ弾き語りは心に響いた。
Her piano-and-vocal performance struck a chord with me.
ライブハウスでは若いミュージシャンが弾き語りで自作の歌を披露していた。
At the live house, young musicians were performing their own songs solo on instrument and vocals.
Compound of 弾く (to play a stringed/keyed instrument) + 語る (to narrate, recite). The 語る element preserves an older sense of "singing a narrative," though today it covers any singing accompanied by self-played instrument.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- ギター弾き語り: solo guitar-and-vocal performance
- ピアノ弾き語り: solo piano-and-vocal performance
- 弾き語りライブ: a solo singer-musician live show
- 弾き語りで歌う: to sing while accompanying oneself
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 弾く: to play (a stringed/keyed instrument) — just the playing
- 歌う: 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