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9 Essential Musical Instruments for Forming a Kick Ass Jazz Music Band

Learning to play Jazz might be complicated, but it’s also rewarding. Here’s a list of the best Jazz instruments to help you get started

By Chris RoditisMusicngear Lead Editor

Jazz is considered one of the most important and influential musical genres that ever existed. It evolved from a set of underground songs to a well-known, popular genre.

Nowadays, Jazz songs can be heard in prestigious restaurants and clubs. Learning to play Jazz might be complicated, but it’s also rewarding. Here’s a list of the best Jazz instruments to help you get started:

Harley Benton BigTone Vintage Orange

There’s nothing fancier than a Jazz band playing live. If you really want to engage your audience, then every part of you should express the elegance and mood of this amazing music genre. The guitar you’ll be using not only should sound great, but it also should look impressive.
The Harley Benton BigTone combines those two qualities. It’s by far the best choice on its price range. It looks vintage, it feels vintage and the warm jazz tones it produces will take you back to the 50’s. As a jazz guitar, the BigTone is massive and hollow inside. Besides being a great starter, the Harley Benton BigTone is meant to be your companion for years to come.

Thomann DP-33 B

Thomann DP-33 B is simply meant to be used in Jazz. It features 26 sounds in 60 presets, and all of them fit perfectly this music genre. Those include Jazz Piano, Jazz Organ, E-Piano, Strings and Church Organ, just to name a few. Easy to set up and use, Thomann DP-33 B feels great and is praised for having a great response.
It comes with an elegant stand and can be used right from the box. This e-Piano is also great for beginners, since it features a music library with 60 exercises.

Fender SQ VM Modified Jazz ´70 NT

The aesthetics of this bass guitar are simply breathtaking. One glance is enough to fall in love with it. Its sound won’t disappoint you either - the Fender SQ VM feature decent pick-ups that give you a variety of tones. Its great quality and low price make it a great instrument for beginners, a great back-up bass for professionals and a reliable “workhorse” for any musician.

Thomann 111E BR 3/4 Double Bass

Thomann 111E BR 3/4 Double Bass is widely praised for being one of the best budget basses available on the market. It has a clear and rich sound. Its low and high notes have great intonations. You’ll enjoy a high-end sound no matter how high or low you go.
If you’re not used to high tension strings, then you can simply replace the stock strings with low tension Rotosound ones. Many musicians are impressed by the quality of this budget bass and end up using it as their main instrument, even for classic music.

Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz - SWG '14

Catalina Jazz kits are loved by many musicians. The 2014 version is considered the best so far. This 4-piece kit is perfect for gigs because of its portability, great sound and compact design.
n fact, it sounds louder than anyone could expect from such a compact set. Its bass drums feature a tight, punchy kick; you’ll also be impressed by its toms – they sound incredibly big and loud.
The looks of the Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz are worth mentioning as well, since they will be attracting compliments like a magnet. 

Startone SAS-75 Alto Saxophone

It’s hard to imagine a Jazz melody without the charming sound of saxophone. Surprisingly enough, the instrument never found a place in the genre until 1920. If you were looking for a quality saxophone in a budget, then the Startone SAS-75 will exceed your expectations. You’ll be charmed with its smooth and gentle sound. It looks elegant and feels sturdy.
Every Startone SAS-75 is checked in the workshop before being shipped, so you can be sure that your instrument won’t have any flaws.

Thomann Black Jazz Bb- Flugelhorn

The flugelhorn features a "fatter", "mellow" and "darker" tone than the trumpet or cornet. First implemented in the 1930’s, flugelhorns are now widely used in Jazz. The Thomann Black Jazz Bb is a great starter.
As a genuine Jazz instrument, it looks elegant. It comes in a shiny dark silver color, something that will drag the attention of your spectators. It comes with a compact case and is widely used for gigs and rehearsals.

Startone STR-25 Bb-Trumpet

Trumpets add a lot of punch, color and atmosphere to any melody. Those instruments are usually expensive and very delicate, that’s why they became somehow rare in modern Jazz.
Nevertheless, the Startone STR 25 Bb isn’t expensive and is quite solid, which makes it great both for beginners and live musicians.

Startone SSL-45 Bb-Tenor Trombone

You’ll be definitely surprised that the Startone SSL-45 Bb features a combination of low price, great sound and high slide quality. This trombone offers an impressively smooth, low-resistance slide. It comes with a slide lubricant, a sturdy case and a needle to clean the tubing. 

The best news is that if you’re willing to take part in this amazing cultural movement, you don’t have to spend a lot of money

Jazz is one of the music genres that are here to stay. It left many footprints in our culture and it keeps constantly evolving. The best news is that if you’re willing to take part in this amazing cultural movement, you don’t have to spend a lot of money. As you could notice, many great Jazz instruments are accessible. With those 9 musical instruments, you could form easily your first kick ass jazz music band without breaking the bank.

About Chris Roditis

Chris Roditis has been an active musician since 1995 in various bands and projects across a variety of genres ranging from acoustic, electronic to nu metal, british rock and trip hop. He has extensive experience as a mixing engineer and producer and has built recording studios for most of the projects he has been involved with. His passion for music steered his entrepreneurial skills into founding MusicNGear in 2012.

Contact Chris Roditis at chrisroditis@kinkl.com

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