Jazz musicians are known for their ability to improvise, or create music spontaneously. This is done by playing around with the melody, harmony, and rhythm of a song.
Syncopation
Syncopation is the displacement of the regular beat, giving jazz music its signature "swing" feel.
Call and response
This improvisational technique involves one musician playing a phrase, and another musician responding with a similar phrase.
Blue notes
Blue notes are slightly flattened or sharpened notes that give jazz music its characteristic "bluesy" sound.
Polyrhythms
Polyrhythms are different rhythms being played at the same time, resulting in a multi layered sound.
Melodic and harmonic dissonance
Complex, or unusual melody lines and chord progressions create tension and resolution
Vocal techniques
Singers use scat singing with nonsense vocal sounds, growl singing with a distorted vocal tone
and falsetto.