The magic of jazz music is such that it continues to rule the hearts even today, decades after it first rose to fame. From the big band sounds to the rhythmic beats of swing music to the distinct style of bebop, jazz has certainly gone through its fair share of transformations. But when you listen to a jazzmusic radio station in USA, there are some musical instruments that you can clearly identify in every song. In this blog, we take a look at some of the most widely used musical instruments used in jazz compositions.
Trumpet
The legendary jazz musician Louis
Armstrong made trumpets very popular. It is a brass instrument with a vibrating
mouthpiece to play the music. It has three valves to control pitch changes. Trumpets
are an essential part of any jazz band that produces a bold and bright sound. It
has been associated with jazz since the very early beginnings, when it was played
by Buddy Bolden and King Oliver. The jazz is a heavily featured instrument in
some of the greatest jazz albums of all times. From classical era to
contemporary times, the trumpet continues to be an essential part of jazz
music.
Saxophone
If there is one defining jazz
musical instrument, it has to be the saxophone. Throughout history, and through
many different styles, the saxophone has been a constant in the jazz musical
genre. The saxophone is technically a woodwind instrument, but it is made out
of brass. It is a monophonic instrument, which means that it can only play one
note at a time. There are four main types of the sax: tenor, alto, soprano, and
baritone. The tenor sax and alto sax are most popular and widely used by jazz
musicians. But the soprano sax and baritone sax is also equally well-known.
Thanks to the diversity of a saxophone, the instrument produces different tones
and notes. From Charlie Parker to Lester Young, the saxophone has been played
by some of the greatest jazz musicians.
Trombone
Trombones have been used in jazz
music ever since the beginning of the genre. They started out as a background
instrument in the early jazz era, but really gained fame as a solo instrument
during the swing era of jazz in the 1930s. Made out of brass, a trombone is a
sliding pipe that goes in and out of the front end of the instrument. The
various musical notes are created based on the placement of the side pipe. During
the peak of big band sounds and swing era, trombones were a must-have
instrument in the jazz bands of that time. They added a flair of drama and
theatrical to every jazz song.
Clarinet
The clarinet may not be as
dramatic as a saxophone or a trombone, but it played a huge role in the emergence
of swing music during the early years. The clarinet is a woodwind instrument
and notes are produced when the stem on the mouthpiece vibrates. As a musical
instrument, the jazz and the saxophone are very similar in their playing technique.
This is why most of the popular sax players could also play the clarinet with
ease. The clarinet has been a part of jazz music since the early jazz era and was
particularly popular during the swing period. In modern times, this instrument
is not used as much. But the notes of a clarinet adds a definite warmth to any
jazz composition.
Piano
With 88 keys to experiment with,
pianos are among the most versatile musical instruments. In jazz songs, pianos can
be used to play various notes ranging from high to low. They are typically used
in the rhythm section of a song, allowing the pianist to play the chords in a
recurring tone or to completely improvise the harmony. Pianos can be used both
as a solo instrument and as part of the ensemble. The versatility of a piano
makes it an essential instrument in any jazz band.
Conclusion
The next time you tune into a jazz music radio station in USA, pay
close attention to the instruments being used in a jazz song. And you will
definitely come across the one we discussed above.
