Timbre – the perceived sound quality of a musical note from a voice or instrument

(Pronounced tam-buh)

(Note: words that can be used to describe a note's timbre include: bright, warm, thick, brassy).

To remember what timbre means use the following mnemonic:

This tambourine (timbre) has an odd sound quality.

Examples of timbre in a sentence

The drum had a bright timbre. 

The timbre of the saxophone was warm. 

That instrument has an interesting timbre.