If you are listening to jazz music for the first time, you might be disoriented during the initial experiences. It is because jazz music has complicated structure, especially when compared to the other forms of music out there. Jazz has complicated rhythms and melodies working together, those who are not used to complexly structured music might find jazz hard to follow.

But the features that make jazz complicated for beginners is the main reason as to why seasoned listener love this type of music. The best way to understand jazz music is to know exactly what to look for. The various jazz groups (usually made up of 2 to 20 players) out there can differ in size, instrumentation, and style.

However, there are all united by three standard elements: blue notes, syncopation, and improvisation.

Improvisation 

Many critics and musicians out there have been able to come into agreement that improvisation is a key factor in jazz. It means that a player or jazz musician can have a moment of inspiration and they go into the unwanted territory, whereby he or she is bale to compose something else while playing.

The art of improvising will need professional skills and high concentration.

In a group, you will find that the members have an understanding of each other’s playing technique. Thus they can provide support to each other so as to make new an interesting part as they play. Improvising is a way that shows communication between the players of the same band, usually referred to as call-and-response-pattern. 

Syncopation 

It is a process of shifting the emphasis of a rhythm within a song or the beat to unaccented notes. For example, if you stomp or clap to the count of one, two three, each time you clap or stomp you are syncopating the rhythm. Skilled jazz musicians can syncopate smaller notes, which divides the offbeat.  In Jazz, syncopation will happen two rhythms are being played against each other. During this process, the listener might find an urge to tap their fingers or dance.

Blue Notes 

This will happen when the player will slide through a scale and play the notes a half-step lower than usual. In blue jazz, this is the notes that we hear. A blue scale is a minor pentatonic scale, which is a bit different from the standard type of scale.

These are the essential elements of jazz music. If you have not been able to sit down and get to listen to some jazz, then you are missing out on a rich type of music. Jazz is rich in history and is one of the most popular types of music in the world.