Music Charades

Q: Does it work for a music class?

Yes. Practice and lessons is about scales, metronomes, recitals and reeds, the things music students do every week, and every card is clean.

63 music moments to act out, from the trombone slide to the karaoke microphone, with no song titles.

Music Charades

Swaying with the crowd to a slow song

1 of 63

Next step Dance moves to act out next The full deck of charades ideas

How it works

These music charades act out music itself, not titles: instruments, musicians at work, practice, concerts and music at home. Cards run from Banging a huge gong to A song stuck in your head all day.

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Instruments first, then the scenes

Playing an instrument is the easy way in: a room names Pushing a trombone slide all the way out before the actor has finished. Musicians at work and Practice and lessons hold the scenes, such as A page turner at a piano recital.

For a band, a choir or a music class

Musicians score fastest on Practice and lessons, where Rubbing rosin on a violin bow and Wetting a reed before putting it on a clarinet are Hard for everyone else. When a round ends, Print these gives all 63 as slips.

Tips

Silent means silent: the actor may play air instruments but may not hum the tune.

Questions and answers

What are good music charades ideas?

Easy ones are instruments played in the air: Strumming a ukulele, Shaking maracas, Playing a cello between your knees. Harder ones are scenes, such as A singer who forgets the words or Carrying a cello case onto a bus.

Can we act out song titles?

Not with this deck: no card names a song, a band or a singer, so nobody loses because they do not know a chart. Everyone in the room has seen a drummer count the band in.

Does it work for a music class?

Yes. Practice and lessons is about scales, metronomes, recitals and reeds, the things music students do every week, and every card is clean.

All 63 music charades ideas

Playing an instrument 13

A drum roll on a snare drum Two sticks blurring on one small drum, then a crash.
Banging a huge gong Wind up with both arms, strike, feel it shake.
Blowing a harmonica on a porch Cup both hands at your mouth and slide side to side.
Emptying the spit valve on a trumpet Tip the horn down, press a little lever, shake.
Playing a cello between your knees Sit forward, long bow strokes across your middle.
Playing a flute held sideways Arms out to one side, lips to the edge, fingers dancing.
Plucking a harp with both hands Lean it on a shoulder and ripple your fingers down.
Pushing a trombone slide all the way out One hand still, the other arm shooting forward.
Shaking maracas Two fists shaking in rhythm, hips joining in.
Strumming a ukulele A tiny guitar held high, quick happy strums.
Tapping a xylophone with two mallets Bounce both hands along a row of bars.
Tuning a violin before a concert Tuck it under the chin, twist a peg, listen, wince.
Waiting all song for one ding on the triangle Hold it up, wait, wait, ding, then wait again.

Show all 63 music charades ideas (50 more)

Musicians at work 13

A backup singer doing the same step every chorus Step, clap, step, clap, perfectly bored.
A country fiddler stomping one foot Fast bowing and a boot keeping time.
A drummer counting the band in Click the sticks together four times over your head.
A jazz trumpeter with puffed-out cheeks Cheeks full, horn pointed up, eyes closed.
A music teacher clapping a rhythm for the class to copy Clap, point at the class, wait, nod.
A one-man band with a drum on his back Knees kick the drum, harmonica at the mouth, hands strum.
A page turner at a piano recital Sit beside the player, stand, turn one page, sit.
A piano tuner listening to one key Press one key again and again, head tilted.
A rock guitarist doing a big windmill strum Swing the whole arm in a circle over the strings.
A singer who forgets the words Sing big, freeze, look at the band for help.
A sound engineer at a mixing desk Slide rows of tiny faders, headphones on one ear.
A street musician playing for a passing crowd Play, nod thanks, keep playing.
An opera singer hitting a high note One hand on the chest, the other rising with the note.

Practice and lessons 12

A very first violin lesson Saw the bow, cover your ears at the squeak.
Carrying a cello case onto a bus Squeeze a giant case down a narrow aisle.
Keeping time with a metronome Swing one finger side to side like the arm.
Practicing scales over and over Up the keys, down the keys, sigh, up again.
Pressing the pedal on a piano with one foot Foot down, hands lift, the sound hangs on.
Reading sheet music upside down Squint, turn the page round, look relieved.
Rubbing rosin on a violin bow Slide a small cake up and down the bow hair.
Taking a bow after a recital Hand on the piano, deep bow, big smile.
Turning a page without missing a note One hand plays on while the other flips fast.
Waiting for your turn at a recital Knees bouncing, fingers practicing on your lap.
Warming up your voice before a show Lip trills, a stretch, a big yawn.
Wetting a reed before putting it on a clarinet Reed in the mouth, then fix it on with a screw.

Concerts and shows 12

A band setting up on a small stage Carry an amp, plug in, tap a microphone.
A sound check before the doors open Tap the mic, thumbs up to the back of the room.
A talent show act that goes wrong Big start, something breaks, keep smiling.
An outdoor concert in the rain Hood up, still dancing, puddle splash.
Clapping for an encore Clap in time, stamp, point at the stage.
Finding your seat in a dark concert hall Squint at a ticket, shuffle past knees, sorry, sorry.
Getting a band member to sign your ticket Reach over a barrier holding out a pen.
Holding up a homemade sign for the band Hold it high and jab at the words.
Putting in earplugs at a loud concert Wince, roll a plug, push it in, smile.
Standing on tiptoe at the back of a concert Stretch up, lean left, lean right.
Swaying with the crowd to a slow song Arms up, sway slowly with everyone around you.
Waving a glow stick at a concert Arm high, swaying side to side in the dark.

Music in everyday life 13

A song stuck in your head all day Shake your head, cover your ears, it keeps going.
Dancing while washing the dishes Scrub a plate, wiggle, spin with the towel.
Drumming on the steering wheel at a red light Both hands tapping the wheel, light turns green.
Nervous at a karaoke microphone Clutch the mic, read the screen, voice cracks.
Putting a record on a turntable Slide it from the sleeve, lower the needle gently.
Singing a lullaby to a stuffed toy Cradle it, sway, sing very softly.
Singing into a hairbrush in the mirror Brush as a microphone, full concert face.
Singing too loud with headphones on the bus Eyes closed, belting, then notice everyone staring.
Tapping your foot to music in a waiting room Sit, read a magazine, one foot keeps going.
Trying to name a song from three notes Listen hard, snap your fingers, it is on the tip of your tongue.
Turning the car radio up for your favorite song Reach for the knob, crank it, nod along.
Whistling while you work Lips pursed, hammering or sweeping in rhythm.
Winding up a music box Turn the tiny key, open the lid, watch.

How this list was compiled: Every card is something a person can act without props or speech about making, practicing or listening to music: instruments, musicians at work, practice and lessons, concerts and shows, and music in everyday life. The deck keeps to the site's family-safe rule: no song, album, film or show titles, no bands or real people, no brand names, nothing sexual and no alcohol. Difficulty is an editor's judgment: Easy is one thing a room names at once, Hard a small scene with a turn. The line under each card is the editors' acting hint, not a rule. The rules of the usual game follow https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charades, read 2026-09-24: rules can vary widely, the performance is silent, and a correct guess scores a point. Overlap with the rest of this site was counted on 2026-09-24 with a leading a, an or the dropped: no card has the same text as a card on any other list here. Licence: own work