Instruments Used in Jazz | Featuring Some Lesser-Known Ones Too!
Jazz has been loved for many years.
Even if you don’t know much about it, many people probably find themselves listening to jazz without thinking, right?
This feature is for those listeners, highlighting the instruments used in jazz.
We’ve selected instruments that appear in a variety of lineups—whether big bands, trios, quartets, or quintets.
It’s recommended for anyone who wants to get a basic overview of jazz instruments for now.
We’ll also introduce some lesser-known instruments in the latter half, so please relax and enjoy it to the very end!
- Welcome to the world of "Vocalo Jazz" [VOCAJAZZ]
- The Royal Road of Jazz: Classic modern jazz masterpieces. Popular tracks you should listen to at least once.
- A roundup of famous jazz standards featured in the hugely popular jazz manga BLUE GIANT
- Ranking of Popular Jazz Songs
- Classic swing jazz tunes. Recommended popular songs.
- [2026] Jazz piano masterpieces: from standards to recent favorites
- The Profound Allure of the Saxophone: Iconic Songs Featuring Saxophone [2026]
- Jazz commercial songs. Popular commercial songs.
- Start here first! Classic jazz-rock masterpieces. Recommended popular tracks.
- A classic jazz-funk masterpiece. A popular recommended track that offers a different flavor from traditional jazz.
- Songs with cool trumpet. Introducing famous pieces from wind ensemble and jazz.
- Classic Dixieland jazz tunes. Recommended popular songs.
- [Western Jazz] A Special Feature on Standard Numbers You’ve Heard at Least Once
Instruments Used in Jazz | Lesser-Known Ones Included! (11–20)
Harp
The harp is an instrument with a gentle melody so soothing that it’s no exaggeration to call it the ultimate in healing sounds.
Few people have experience playing it, but almost everyone has heard a harp at least once.
While its established image might make it seem incompatible with jazz, it actually pairs surprisingly well.
It’s especially compatible with standard jazz, so if you like orthodox jazz, this is an instrument you should definitely check out.
That said, there are very few harpists, so researching it can be a challenge (lol).
oboe
The oboe is a woodwind instrument known for its strength in the midrange.
Many people have heard it in classical music, but few have seen it in jazz.
That’s because the oboe is extremely minor within the jazz world, and there are very few pieces that feature it in the lead.
That doesn’t mean it’s a bad fit, though.
It’s simply that there aren’t many jazz oboists, yet there seem to be more core fans than you’d expect who are captivated by its distinct, mellow timbre.
Mr.
Oboman here is a performer who specializes in the oboe—very rare on the jazz scene.
If you want to savor the oboe, starting with him might be a great idea.
conga
Despite its simple playing method of just striking it, the conga is an instrument capable of displaying a wide range of nuances.
In some places, such as school music rooms, it’s a standard piece of equipment, making it a surprisingly familiar instrument for many Japanese people.
While the conga gives the impression that you simply hit it, that’s precisely why achieving high-level performance is said to be difficult.
It’s an instrument that doesn’t allow you to disguise your sound, so the atmosphere can change dramatically depending on the player.
Why not explore congas in jazz, especially through Latin jazz?
Accordion
The accordion is an instrument with a distinctive timbre that leaves a strong impression.
Perhaps many people can’t resist the unique nostalgic atmosphere created by that sound.
In jazz, the accordion is used primarily in French jazz, and it often features wistful pieces that match the instrument’s fragile melodies.
Maybe because its tone is so distinctive, there are many songs that use the accordion as the lead.
If you’re curious, be sure to check out French jazz.
violin
The violin is an instrument that often takes the lead role in classical music.
Since everyone knows it, you might think it’s frequently used in jazz as well, but surprisingly, the jazz violin isn’t exactly mainstream.
That said, it’s not super obscure either; it’s just that in standard jazz, it’s generally not used.
However, in a genre called gypsy jazz, it’s used quite often.
Jazz violin tends to feature lots of bright melodies, so be sure to check it out.
keyboard
When people think of jazz, they often picture music performed with acoustic instruments.
That was true a generation ago, but times have changed.
These days, there are countless forms of jazz combined with electronic music.
The keyboard—familiar to many of us—is used mainly in genres like fusion jazz, smooth jazz, and Afro-Cuban styles.
All of these genres pair well with electronic music, so they don’t feel out of place; if anything, you’ll likely find yourself captivated by their avant-garde tones.
In conclusion
This time we featured instruments used in jazz, and since jazz often uses more experimental lineups than other genres, we even saw some instruments that made us think, “Wait, that’s the lead?” Many of the instruments we introduced are quite mainstream, so if you’re interested in learning about jazz instruments, why not dive deeper? In addition to this article, Rag Music has many other pieces featuring various aspects of jazz.
Be sure to check those out too!