When do I use all the words meaning "song"?


There's 歌, 曲, 歌曲, 唄, etc. I was about to give a few example contexts, but in
English there really doesn't seem to be more than one way in which we refer to
a 'song'. I do see different words being used in different places but I can't
place exactly why they're used there.




Regarding the difference between 歌 and 曲:

  * **An (entire) work of vocal music, A track (with vocal)** : Both 曲 or 歌 are used interchangeably, but the former is more common. 

> ビートルズの[曲/歌]が2つ入ったCD

  * **A work of music without vocal** (e.g. a piece of classical music): 曲 

> シューベルトの曲を演奏する

  * **Music (as opposed to lyrics/vocal), Melody** : 曲
  * **Song (as opposed to melody/lyrics), Vocal** : 歌 

> Xが歌詞を作り、Yが曲を作り、Zが歌を入れた。  
>  (≒the lyrics written by X, the music made by Y, and sung by Z)

And there are other words:

  * 楽曲: A work of music with or without vocal. Sounds a bit technical.
  * 歌曲: Technically it refers to Western classical songs including [Lied](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lied). Besides this, I think it's a _very rare_ synonym for "楽曲 with vocal".
  * 唄: Basically just an alternative kanji for 歌 as vocal music, which may look poetic, literary, or traditional.

And 歌 may also refer to
[_waka_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waka_\(poetry\)) and
[_haiku_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiku).




Regarding the difference between 歌 and 曲:

  * **An (entire) work of vocal music, A track (with vocal)** : Both 曲 or 歌 are used interchangeably, but the former is more common. 

> ビートルズの[曲/歌]が2つ入ったCD

  * **A work of music without vocal** (e.g. a piece of classical music): 曲 

> シューベルトの曲を演奏する

  * **Music (as opposed to lyrics/vocal), Melody** : 曲
  * **Song (as opposed to melody/lyrics), Vocal** : 歌 

> Xが歌詞を作り、Yが曲を作り、Zが歌を入れた。  
>  (≒the lyrics written by X, the music made by Y, and sung by Z)

And there are other words:

  * 楽曲: A work of music with or without vocal. Sounds a bit technical.
  * 歌曲: Technically it refers to Western classical songs including [Lied](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lied). Besides this, I think it's a _very rare_ synonym for "楽曲 with vocal".
  * 唄: Basically just an alternative kanji for 歌 as vocal music, which may look poetic, literary, or traditional.

And 歌 may also refer to
[_waka_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waka_\(poetry\)) and
[_haiku_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiku).

