jangling

Jangling refers to a harsh, bright, metallic sound that results from metal objects or strings vibrating in contact or proximity, producing a rapid, irregular sequence of notes. In everyday use, it describes the clamor of loose keys, coins, chains, bells, or other small metal items that strike together and emit a characteristic ringing or clink. The term can function as a noun (the jangling) or as a present participle (to jangle).

Etymology and usage: Jangle is an onomatopoeic verb long used in English to imitate the sound of clinking or ringing metal. The related adjective jangly denotes something that makes or resembles this sound. The word date back several centuries and is frequently employed to describe both literal sounds and metaphorical irritation or discord, as in “jangling nerves.”

Music and culture: In music, jangling describes a bright, treble-heavy guitar tone associated with the jangly guitar sound of certain styles. The phrase “jangly guitars” is often linked to 12-string models and the use of single-coil pickups, producing a shimmering, ringing timbre. Jangle pop is a subgenre and aesthetic that emphasizes this tone, commonly linked to bands such as The Byrds in the 1960s and later to artists like R.E.M. and Teenage Fanclub. The sonic hallmark is a clean, trebly guitar layer that cuts through a mix with a characteristic shimmer.

Other uses: The term may appear in figurative expressions, such as describing a scene or mood as jangling—tense, discordant, or erratic. In any context, jangling connotes a brisk, metallic ringing more than a smooth or mellow sound.