Jazz comprises the same basic elements of all music: melody, harmony, texture, rhythm and instruments, with one important additional ingredient: improvisation.
MELODY
The Bing Dictionary defines the element of melody as follows:
mel·o·dy [ méllədee ]
HARMONY
In music, harmony is the simultaneous playing of different notes to create layers of pitches commonly known as chords. Harmony can consist of one note in addition to the melody or any number of notes. The harmony helps "paint" the emotion of the music. In jazz, the harmonies are quite complex compared to contemporary rock or pop.
TEXTURE
Texture is how the melody, harmony and rhythms are combined in a song. Texture can be described as how "thick" or "thin" the music sounds. There are four basic kinds of texture: monophony, homophony, polyphony and heterophony.
Monophonic music (monophony) consists of only one line or music (the melody) all by itself, such as a chorus singing the exact same pitches together in the same rhythm.
Homophonic music (homophony) is the most common texture found in Western music. Homophony is "thicker" than monophonic music, and consists of more than one instrument or voice basically moving together, but singing or playing different pitches (singing or playing in harmony). Singing a Christmas carol in 4-part harmony is a good example of homophony: while every part is singing something different, for the most part they sing the words and move along at the same time.
Polyphonic music (polyphony) is where two or more instruments are playing completely different things -- the melody will be there, but another melody (or melodies) -- called a countermelody -- will also be doing its own thing. In jazz, the ensemble often performs polyphonic music; the various musicians will each play his or her interpretation of the melody and harmony, playing different tones and rhythms. When you sing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" in a round, you are creating polyphony: although each person is singing the same melody, you are doing it at different times. The result is a thicker texture with everybody singing something completely different (a different part of the melody and rhythm) at any given point in the music.
Heterophonic music is lesson common in Western music. Heterphony consists of two or more variations of a melody being performed at the same time. Heterophony typically occurs in jazz music as part of a larger polyphonic texture, where two or more musicians are playing their versions of the melody and the rest of the group is playing harmonically-based lines to support the melody.
RHYTHM
Rhythm is often thought of as the heartbeat of the music. It is the pattern that is created by the length that notes are held. Rhythm is often confused with the beat or pulse of the music, but they are very different. The beat or pulse of the music is what you tap your foot to; it is the ongoing underlying basis for the music and is uniform and consistent. The rhythm is layered on top of the beat and is relative to the beat, but is not uniform and typically includes notes of varying length. Jazz rhythms are very complex, because every person is typically playing a different patterns at the same time.
INSTRUMENTS
Although today, almost every common instrument known to man has been played in the jazz arena, we typically think of a select group of instruments when we think of jazz. The most commonly used brass instruments are trumpet or cornet and trombone. Woodwind instruments heard most often in jazz are the saxophone (soprano, alto, tenor), clarinet and sometime flute. Essential to the jazz trio is the string bass, and jazz guitar is now common in jazz ensembles. And jazz piano has been with us since the genesis of jazz. Percussion instruments include the vibraphone (the vibes) and the almighty drummer to round out the basic essentials of today's jazz ensemble.
IMPROVISATION
Improvisation is the essential ingredient of jazz and what sets it apart from other musics. Improvisation is, essentially, "making it up as you go along." History is full of great improvisational musicians -- Mozart and Bach come to mind -- but only in jazz do you have a group of musicians improvising at the same time to create a unique piece of music. We improvise every day of our lives. When you have a conversation with someone, although you might have an idea of what you want to say, you respond to what the other person is saying or how they are reacting, and thus improvise your side of the conversation to "fit" what they are communicating. It is the same in jazz music: musicians "do their own thing" while also listening to the others in the group and seeking to meet on a common plane to make music.
To learn more about the elements of jazz, visit the Jazz Lounge section of the PBS JAZZ website under "Music 101." You can learn more about the instruments mentioned in this article by visiting the Musical Notes section of the site under "Buyers Assistant."
MELODY
The Bing Dictionary defines the element of melody as follows:
mel·o·dy [ méllədee ]
- tune: a series of musical notes that form a distinct unit, are recognizable as a phrase, and usually have a distinctive rhythm
- linear musical structure: the linear structure of a piece of music in which single notes follow one another
- main tune: the primary and most recognizable part in a harmonic piece of music
HARMONY
In music, harmony is the simultaneous playing of different notes to create layers of pitches commonly known as chords. Harmony can consist of one note in addition to the melody or any number of notes. The harmony helps "paint" the emotion of the music. In jazz, the harmonies are quite complex compared to contemporary rock or pop.
TEXTURE
Texture is how the melody, harmony and rhythms are combined in a song. Texture can be described as how "thick" or "thin" the music sounds. There are four basic kinds of texture: monophony, homophony, polyphony and heterophony.
Monophonic music (monophony) consists of only one line or music (the melody) all by itself, such as a chorus singing the exact same pitches together in the same rhythm.
Homophonic music (homophony) is the most common texture found in Western music. Homophony is "thicker" than monophonic music, and consists of more than one instrument or voice basically moving together, but singing or playing different pitches (singing or playing in harmony). Singing a Christmas carol in 4-part harmony is a good example of homophony: while every part is singing something different, for the most part they sing the words and move along at the same time.
Polyphonic music (polyphony) is where two or more instruments are playing completely different things -- the melody will be there, but another melody (or melodies) -- called a countermelody -- will also be doing its own thing. In jazz, the ensemble often performs polyphonic music; the various musicians will each play his or her interpretation of the melody and harmony, playing different tones and rhythms. When you sing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" in a round, you are creating polyphony: although each person is singing the same melody, you are doing it at different times. The result is a thicker texture with everybody singing something completely different (a different part of the melody and rhythm) at any given point in the music.
Heterophonic music is lesson common in Western music. Heterphony consists of two or more variations of a melody being performed at the same time. Heterophony typically occurs in jazz music as part of a larger polyphonic texture, where two or more musicians are playing their versions of the melody and the rest of the group is playing harmonically-based lines to support the melody.
RHYTHM
Rhythm is often thought of as the heartbeat of the music. It is the pattern that is created by the length that notes are held. Rhythm is often confused with the beat or pulse of the music, but they are very different. The beat or pulse of the music is what you tap your foot to; it is the ongoing underlying basis for the music and is uniform and consistent. The rhythm is layered on top of the beat and is relative to the beat, but is not uniform and typically includes notes of varying length. Jazz rhythms are very complex, because every person is typically playing a different patterns at the same time.
INSTRUMENTS
Although today, almost every common instrument known to man has been played in the jazz arena, we typically think of a select group of instruments when we think of jazz. The most commonly used brass instruments are trumpet or cornet and trombone. Woodwind instruments heard most often in jazz are the saxophone (soprano, alto, tenor), clarinet and sometime flute. Essential to the jazz trio is the string bass, and jazz guitar is now common in jazz ensembles. And jazz piano has been with us since the genesis of jazz. Percussion instruments include the vibraphone (the vibes) and the almighty drummer to round out the basic essentials of today's jazz ensemble.
IMPROVISATION
Improvisation is the essential ingredient of jazz and what sets it apart from other musics. Improvisation is, essentially, "making it up as you go along." History is full of great improvisational musicians -- Mozart and Bach come to mind -- but only in jazz do you have a group of musicians improvising at the same time to create a unique piece of music. We improvise every day of our lives. When you have a conversation with someone, although you might have an idea of what you want to say, you respond to what the other person is saying or how they are reacting, and thus improvise your side of the conversation to "fit" what they are communicating. It is the same in jazz music: musicians "do their own thing" while also listening to the others in the group and seeking to meet on a common plane to make music.
To learn more about the elements of jazz, visit the Jazz Lounge section of the PBS JAZZ website under "Music 101." You can learn more about the instruments mentioned in this article by visiting the Musical Notes section of the site under "Buyers Assistant."
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