[With Video] Let's Play! A Roundup of Instruments That Make Up a Band
When you’re about to say, “Alright, let’s start a band!” the first thing to decide is each member’s role, right?
Who’s going to sing, who’s going to play—fun but tricky decisions.
In this article, we’ll introduce a range of instruments that are used in real band lineups.
From the classics to unusual ones you may not have heard of, we’ve got a pretty wide selection!
It might be especially helpful if you’re thinking, “I want to form a slightly unconventional band that stands out.”
- Recommended songs for beginner bands: simple and crowd-pleasing tracks.
- Recommended songs for beginner band members by instrument
- A special feature on girls' band tracks and female-vocal study songs that help you focus
- [For Beginners] Recommended Songs for Female Vocal Bands: Great for Choosing Your Setlist! [2026]
- First live band performance: Popular recommended songs to cover for entertainment acts and showcases [2026]
- The depth of guitar sound. A collection of songs with cool guitar.
- Band-sound Vocaloid Song Special [Rock]
- [Rock] Easy Band-Style Vocaloid Songs for Beginners [Simple]
- A collection of video game music I want to perform in a wind ensemble
- Challenge percussion! A collection of songs I want to play on the cajón
- A collection of cool songs that sound great when sung by women, originally male songs
- Recommended Songs for Beginner Bands at School Culture Festivals
- [Music-themed Educational Toys] A roundup of toys that let you enjoy sounds
[With Video] Let’s Play! A Roundup of Instruments That Make Up a Band (1–10)
shakuhachi
The shakuhachi is a traditional Japanese woodwind instrument known for its uniquely recognizable tone.
While its sound evokes a sense of history, did you know that various forms of the instrument have risen and fallen over time, and that the modern shakuhachi dates back to around the 16th century? In recent years, it has gained the spotlight through Daisuke Kaminaga of WagakkiBand, whose flashy performances and expansive sounds using effects have shown how seamlessly it can blend with band music.
Many listeners feel there’s no longer a gap between it and contemporary band sounds.
As an option for the new era of band music, the shakuhachi is becoming mainstream and is also gaining popularity overseas.
trombone
Among brass instruments, it has a long history and is thought to have derived from the trumpet around the 15th century.
It is known for a playing technique in which moving the slide changes the length of the tubing, thereby altering the pitch.
In classical music it plays everything from supportive harmonies to melodies, making it one of the indispensable instruments in the orchestral sound.
It also adds color with its distinctive timbre in jazz big bands and pop music.
Since there are no fret markers as on a guitar, it’s an instrument that truly tests the performer’s technique.
tambourine
When it comes to percussion instruments that just about everyone has encountered at least once in music class or karaoke, the tambourine comes to mind.
While it’s used as an educational instrument, bands often use versions without a skin.
Because it can produce delicate nuances that drums—also a percussion instrument—cannot, you frequently hear it in rock and pop.
However, a tambourine-only part is rare in band settings, so the key to playing seems to be how well you blend into the overall performance.
[With Video] Let's Play! A Summary of Instruments That Make Up a Band (11–20)
synth pad
An instrument that fills the gaps that arise in an ensemble by sustaining tones or playing chord progressions.
Among these, those that use synth sounds are called synth pads, and they’re known to be widely used by many bands in modern rock.
Because you need to craft the sounds before rehearsing with the band, it’s arguably a part where preparation is more important than the performance itself.
A synth pad has such presence that it can change the overall impression of a song depending on whether it’s there or not, making it one of the roles you’ll want to include if possible when forming a new band.
drum
The drums are the part that creates crucial rhythms in almost every musical genre—not only in bands, but also in contemporary music and even traditional/folk music.
From the very back of the stage, the drummer has a vantage point over the whole band, making it not an exaggeration to say they occupy a position similar to a conductor in an orchestra.
Hearing “at the back of the stage” might suggest they don’t stand out, but because the performance uses the whole body, it can look flashy even when just playing normally, so it’s a great choice for those who want to stand out in a band.
Also, with many artists who both drum and sing—like Chisato Moritaka, Junichi Inagaki, and C-C-B—the drums can be considered a part with a wide expressive range.
violin
A historic acoustic instrument that conveys a majestic image simply by being in the band.
While it’s often strongly associated with classical music, its delicate, transparent tone—unmatched by any substitute—creates a truly singular presence even within a band sound.
Because it’s an acoustic instrument, some may worry it could be drowned out by amplified guitars and bass or the naturally loud drums.
However, in recent years there are electric violins and other options that can be connected to amps and speakers, so there’s no need to fear being buried in the ensemble.
It’s a recommended instrument if you’re looking for a sound different from a standard rock band.
DJ
People generally associate DJs with hip-hop and similar styles.
Techniques like scratching with vinyl records or CDs are well-known, but in bands, the DJ often handles tasks that are hard for live instrumentalists to cover simultaneously, such as percussion-like elements and equipment operations.
Especially in bands that rely heavily on programmed sounds, whether or not there’s a DJ in the lineup can greatly change the onstage performance, making it an important role.
In recent years, DJs have shown a strong presence in genres like nu-metal/mixture rock, and the role is becoming increasingly popular even within rock music.