In music, a phrase is a group or segment of musical ideas that form a complete musical thought or expression. It is a meaningful and coherent unit that consists of a series of musical notes and rhythms, typically played or sung together. Phrases often follow a specific pattern or structure and can be distinguished by their melodic contour, rhythmic patterns, and harmonic progression. Phrases can be short or long, and they are essential building blocks in constructing larger musical compositions.
