and what instrument holds the melody and which instrument holds the harmony?
what are the characteristics of a jazz song ( meaning what makes a song jazz style ?
2007-03-05 12:20:02 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
In the 40's and 50's it was primarily a piano, bass and drums in the rhythm section and then a saxophone, trumpet and/or trombone as the horns.
In the late 60's and 70's, there electric instruments were added, such as electric bass, synthesizers and the like.
Today there are a wide variety of instruments used in jazz. Because there are so many musicians out there, in order for a musician to differentiate him/herself, he/she needs to have some way to make their band stand out. Many musicians use instruments from outside the jazz norm in order to make the music more interesting and exciting.
Jazz music is characterized by improvisation, or the spontaneous creation of music. Usually there will be a melody, or composed section, followed by a spontaneous, improvised section, and then closing the song with an arranged ending, often a reprise of the melody that was introduced at the beginning.
2007-03-06 10:55:08 · answer #1 · answered by The Real Deal 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The instruments in a standard jazz band are:
2 alto saxophones
2 tenor saxophones (big melody parts)
1 baritone saxophone
5 trumpets (big melody parts)
4 trombones
1 keyboard
1 guitar
1 bass
1 drum set
Basically, a jazz song has swinged eighth notes and a laid back tone. It has an emotion that's more universal and smoother than pop. Jazz comes in so many styles, you can't really explain them all. But mostly, the swinged eighth notes or swing rhythms work (drummer keeps beat 1, 2 and 3 4 and).
As for the melody, any instrument can take a melody, but the three big ones are piano, saxophone, and trumpet. Everybody else normally plays the harmony, especially bass, drum set, and trombones.
2007-03-05 20:26:19 · answer #2 · answered by Hoofle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
THE MELODY IS USUALLY PLAYED BY THE ALTO SAXES.(SOMETIMES THE TENORS) TRUMPETS ARE LIKE BACK UP. IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF SOMGS.
2007-03-05 20:27:58 · answer #3 · answered by passion4fashion07 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
trombone, trumpet, saxaphone, guitar, and trap set are what i know of
2007-03-05 20:28:52 · answer #4 · answered by jtenidok 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋