high pitch; high tone
Refers to a high-pitched sound or voice, or figuratively to an excited, lively, or high-spirited mood. Often used in phrases like 高調子な声 or 高調子で話す.
She started singing in a high-pitched voice.
The meeting proceeded in a lively tone.
Compound of 高 (high) and 調子 (tone, pitch, condition). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word follows a common pattern of combining an adjective stem with a noun.