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

Fitzgerald’s scat singing rivaled the improvisations of instrumentalists.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 16, 2020

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

Mr. Pizzarelli is a suave, gregarious entertainer and guitar virtuoso with a remarkable facility for cool scat singing in tune with his own guitar.

From New York Times • Nov. 23, 2016