Because musicians in marching bands must carry their instruments, keyboards, marimbas and elaborate drum sets are rarely used. Instruments must be of appropriate size to be carried in uniform lines through crowded spaces. Flutes, which must be held perpendicular to the ground, and bulky tubas are incorporated with some difficulty. Instruments that can attach a light wire stand are ideal for groups that use sheet music.
Most marching bands feature a prominent woodwind section -- with clarinets and alto saxophones used by most. Oboes, bass clarinets and tenor saxophones are often incorporated. Flutes and piccolos are also often found in marching bands and are considered woodwinds even though they produce sound without reeds.
The percussion section of large marching bands is called a drumline and commonly includes three types of drums. The loudest is the snare, a single drum featuring metal strings on the bottom of the head. The quad comprises four different-toned drums attached to one another, along with a tiny drum called the quint. The bass drum is large and held perpendicular to the ground. Each drum hangs by a strap from the neck of the musician. For some professional groups, rolling convoys can form a platform for full drum sets, xylophones and cymbals.
The loudest portion of a marching band is typically the brass section, which includes trumpets, trombones, French horns and mellophones. The length of trombones lead most musicians to opt for the baritone horn for marching, which achieves a similar range of sound but is easier to carry due to its shorter length. The tuba is also a brass instrument, though its size and weight makes it impractical for many marching bands.