Jazz Land

Typical Jazz Instruments


typical instrument setup in a traditional jazz consist of?

The most common jazz band is a TRIO consisting of a chord-playing instrument (usually a keyboard (piano, organ, synthesizer), vibraphone, guitar, or (rarely) banjo), the double bass, and percussion. Bass and drums are almost universal in jazz bands of all sizes. The next most common group is a QUARTET, which most frequently adds a saxophone or guitar to the piano-bass-drums melange. Of the saxophones, the alto is most common, but many bands favor the tenor sax, and some prefer baritone or soprano sax. The bass saxophone, although rare, is another fine jazz instrument. QUINTETS and SEXTETS typically have extra saxophonists or guitarists. Larger jazz bands (with 16-20 players) typically include 4 to 5 trumpets, saxophones (2-3 altos, 2 tenors, and a baritone), 3-4 trombones, and a bass trombone. The saxophonists may also double on flute, clarinet, bass clarinet and soprano saxophone, the trumpeters on flugelhorn, and the bass trombonist on tuba. A vocalist is also a frequent inclusion.