Jazz is a type of music developed in America around the 1920s. It is a piece of rhythmic music with forwarding momentum or swing to the beat. There is a lot of improvisation, unrehearsed sections created at the moment, and solos from the artists. Each jazz recording has a unique sound. Jazz music is considered an art form since the talents of each musician show through in their music. Jazz was first developed for dancing but is now considered easy listening as well. The first jazz recording was in 1917.
What instruments are used in a jazz band? Jazz music has two types of instruments: rhythm instruments and horns. Rhythm instruments can be drums and pianos. Horn instruments can be saxophone and trombones. Each musician has their sound and collection of instruments that play in unison, at the same time, to create the sound. The instrument that is most popular in jazz music would most likely be the trumpet.
When determining what instruments to include in a jazz band the musician must first determine the type of jazz band he or she desires. Once the type of band and style of music is decided the musician must then develop a selection of rhythm and horn instruments that will achieve his desired sound.
As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 84,000 lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you succeed.
Get unlimited access to over 84,000 lessons.
Try it nowJazz band instruments are as unique as each musician and their creative sound and style. The melody can be several instruments in unison or a single instrument creating the melody as the song progresses through improvisation.
Instruments used in jazz are:
Jazz instruments fall into one of two categories, rhythm or horns. A particular piece of jazz music may feature multiple instruments in unison or one instrument in solo melody.
Many types of horn instruments can be played in jazz. The most popular are the trumpet, trombone, saxophone, and clarinet. The sousaphone is a horn that is not used for jazz music due to its deep and slow tones. Horns can be brass instruments such as the trumpet and trombone, or they can be reed instruments, such as the clarinet and saxophone.
 |
Trumpets are well known in jazz for their bold, crisp, and cheery sound. Trumpets are often switched out with coronets, which are essentially smaller versions of the trumpet, and able to produce higher sounds. The trumpet is one of the most recognizable sounds in jazz music.
Saxophones often come to mind when listing jazz instruments. They are widely used by many jazz musicians. The saxophone is a brass, reed instrument that has a wide range of notes. Saxophones come in a wide range of sizes and each size produces a different variety of notes. The larger the instrument the lower the note register.
The clarinet is not as bold and impactful as the trumpet or the saxophone. It plays a nice rhythmic melody and therefore is an important instrument for jazz music. Clarinets are in the woodwind family.
 |
Trombones are part of the brass family and are quite large compared to the trumpet. It is often one of the most recognized jazz instruments due to its unique look and sound. The trombone became a popular jazz instrument in the 1930s with swing jazz.
Rhythm section instruments include the piano, guitars, and drums. The rhythm instruments give jazz music its unique swing sound that has made the music so popular over several decades.
 |
The piano is a versatile instrument and can be used for many styles of music. The piano in jazz music can be a unique and flexible sound that can mold to the musician's style.
Drums are also versatile instruments that are used in many genres of music around the globe. The beat and rhythm of drums are essential to any jazz band. They set the beat and the tempo of the music, which creates the unique sound of jazz music.
The double bass is a large and strong-sounding string instrument. The double bass player has to stand while playing the instrument and the deep rich sound of the bass is very recognizable in jazz music.
The electric guitar has been added to the jazz band instrument lineup as time has progressed. The popularity of an electric guitar in a jazz band grows as jazz music becomes more modern.
Jazz music was created in America in the early 1920s. The city of New Orleans, Louisiana was vital in the widespread fascination with this new sound of music. The purpose of jazz music started out being a new form of music to dance to but quickly turned into an art form with musicians striving to find their unique sound.
The styles of jazz have evolved over the years. Some of the different styles of jazz are:
Jazz started in the United States, but as its popularity grew it spread to many nations across the globe. Jazz is considered by some to be one of America's greatest exports to the world.
Some famous jazz musicians are:
 |
Jazz music was developed in the 20th century in the United States of America. Jazz music is a unique collection of rhythm and blues with each musician having a different sound. The popularity of jazz music has grown rapidly since the 1920s.
Jazz music has a rhythmic sound with a forward momentum often called swing. Jazz instruments can be broken into two categories: rhythm and horns.
| Types of jazz instruments: | |
|---|---|
| Horns | |
| Saxophone | |
| Clarinet | |
| Trombone | |
| Rhythm | |
| Piano | |
| Double bass | |
| Drums | |
| Electric guitar |
Popular and successful jazz musicians in America are Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and Benny Carter.
Jazz music originated in America but is now found in many nations around the world. The popularity of jazz continues and the sound is constantly evolving to create new styles of jazz music. Jazz music can be danced to, sang to, or just listened to. The love of jazz music seems to grow more with each new generation.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
For this assignment, respond to the following short-answer essay questions about jazz bands and the instruments commonly used in a jazz band. Since these are short-answer essay questions, responses should be relatively succinct and focused. Writing two to three well-developed paragraphs per question is perfectly adequate for these questions.
Questions:
Possible Response to Question #3:
Jazz bands have been around for nearly 100 years, and they have changed greatly since the early days. Jazz grew in popularity throughout the 1920s and 1930s. During this time, some different instruments, such as the violin, were used to create jazz music. Today, it is less common to see an instrument like a violin in a jazz band.
Also, in the 1930s and 1940s, jazz bands tended to be quite large. Most bands had up to 17 instruments. Today, professional jazz bands usually use fewer instruments to create their unique and upbeat sound.
The main instruments of early jazz music would be the trumpet, trombone, saxophone, clarinet, and piano. Later jazz styles would include the drums and the electric guitar.
Instruments in jazz can be classified into two groups: rhythm instruments and horns. Rhythm instruments can be the piano, drums, double bass, or electric guitar. Horn instruments can be the clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, and trombone.
Already a member? Log In
Back