scat singing

American  

noun

Jazz.

1. singing in which the singer substitutes improvised nonsense syllables for the words of a song, and tries to sound and phrase like a musical instrument.

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Etymology

Origin of scat singing

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Newly christened, she became known for scat singing, a vocal style that originated with ragtime - which enabled her to improvise melodies using her voice as an instrument.

From BBC • Jul. 25, 2025

Some audience members jeered during Ms. Mohawk’s performance of her “Appointment With a Dream,” which involved her own ethereal take on scat singing.

From New York Times • Dec. 22, 2023

Picking up on the religious undercurrent of the lyrics, she shifts from scat singing to fervent gospel sermonising; its full power is revealed on the a capella intro of C&C’s Deeper Mix.

From The Guardian • Nov. 21, 2019

In this tribute to jazz great Ella Fitzgerald, Harris and Jakel ricocheted around the stage in perfect synchrony, matching Fitzgerald’s scat singing with their own dazzling, full-body, frequently airborne execution.

From Washington Post • Dec. 6, 2017

Pocock’s natural, unpretentious scat singing is an added attraction, and so is her songwriting.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 20, 2017