What's a Jazz Band?
Learn about jazz and its instruments.
What is a Jazz Band?
A jazz band is a musical performance group that consists of a horn section and a rhythm section. Jazz bands often play swing, blues, funk, Latin, and other styles of jazz music.
What Instruments Are in a Jazz Band?
Jazz bands are usually divided into two sections: the horn section and the rhythm section.
Instruments in the rhythm section include piano, double bass or electric bass, guitar, and drum set. Instruments in the horn section include saxophones, trombones, and trumpets.
You may also occasionally see other instruments, such as flutes or clarinets.
What Happens in a Jazz Band?
In a jazz band, the rhythm section keeps the beat going while the horn section usually plays melodies, harmonies, and solos.
Improvisation
Improvisation, sometimes called improv, is when musicians create their own music instead of only playing what is written on the sheet music. Jazz musicians often take turns performing improvised solos, making every performance a little different.
Jazz Band Sections
Horn Section
Saxophones, trumpets, and trombones often perform melodies, harmonies, backgrounds, and solos.
Rhythm Section
Piano, bass, guitar, and drums support the groove, harmony, tempo, and overall feel of the music.