jangly

Jangly is an adjective used to describe a sound or texture characterized by bright, ringing, metallic tones with a strong treble presence and a chiming quality. It is commonly applied to guitar timbres, particularly those associated with jangly pop and indie rock, and to the aesthetic produced by certain guitar setups and effects. The word derives from “jangle,” an onomatopoeic imitation of the sound of bells or light metal, with the -y suffix to form an adjective.

In practice, jangly guitar sounds are often achieved with a 12-string electric guitar, such as a Rickenbacker, or with tremolo and chorus effects that widen the stereo image and create a shimmering attack. The style emphasizes high-frequency content and a clear, bright attack over heavy distortion, producing chords that ring out rather than sound thick. Jangly is also used to describe a broader indie-pop or alternative-rock aesthetic known as jangle pop, a term popularized in the 1980s to describe bands drawing on 1960s pop and folk-rock sounds.

Historically, the term is closely associated with The Byrds, whose jangly 12-string guitar helped define the sound; it later became a hallmark of bands such as R.E.M., The Smiths, The Chills, and Teenage Fanclub. Critics might apply the descriptor to songs, guitar parts, or whole albums that achieve a bright, treble-forward, chiming texture.