| Instrumental Music | Vocal Music |
| (1) Instruments are used. | The voice (vocal cords) are used. |
| (2) Some part of the body is used as a medium to produce the sound, but the final sound is produced by the instrument. | Some parts of the body aid the production of sound (e.g., lungs, vocal tract, etc.), but the final sound emerges through the mouth. |
| (3) The output of the instrument is more or less of the same type, although the way the musician plays can give it an individualistic flavour. | Individual voices vary from the very low bass to the very high tenor. Hence the output varies and is very individualistic. |
| (4) An instrument can hardly be expected to sound like a voice (although some musicians try). | The voice can be used to imithte the sound of an instrument. |
