Marching bands are made up of a variety of instruments, some of which are uncommon in other musical ensembles. Thanks to their unique instrumentation and the talented musicians who play them, they not only bring outstanding music to events but also charisma and fun.
If you're having treble remembering all the marching band instruments, rest assured that they're our forte, and we have you covered!
Percussion Instruments
The percussion section, or drum line of a marching band, is critical because it provides the tempo for the musical numbers. Many people know that the percussion section includes drums and cymbals, but it can also these other instruments.
Snare Drum
This drum is the most commonly used drum in marching bands and provides a strong, piercing beat. It's used to produce drum rolls and is a great option for performing solos.
Tenor Drums
Tenor drums, also called quads, are sets of four to six drums mounted together for carrying and playing. The configuration usually comprises four main drums and two accent drums, although this can vary. Tenor drums add vibrancy to any song.
Bass Drums
This drum is very large and is usually attached to the body by shoulder straps. Striking it with a soft mallet produces a powerful, deep bass tone. A pitched bass drum can also be used in marching bands. This drum can be tuned to a specific musical note.
Cymbals
These large, round metal plates make a very loud, high-pitched sound when crashed together. Holding the cymbals close together and tapping them lightly produces a much more muted sound.
Bells or Glockenspiel
The glockenspiel is made of metal bars that represent the higher tones of the musical scale, like those on the treble clef of a piano keyboard. It's a very large instrument and is usually attached to the body with a shoulder harness. Each bell produces a melodic, high-pitched tone.
Wood Blocks
Usually made from teak, wood blocks add a bright-sounding beat to the music.
Brass Instruments
The brass section of a marching band adds powerful, rich tones and vibrations to the music. The instruments are gorgeous, polished brass that looks beautiful during marching events.
Trumpet
To play this instrument, air is blown through closed lips into a mouthpiece and valves are pushed to produce specific musical notes. Trumpets often play the melody line of a tune, but can also play the harmony.
Cornet
Similar to a trumpet but with a more mellow tone, the cornet is a popular marching band instrument because of its small size.
Trombone
This unique instrument uses a sliding system to produce various musical tones. It can play both the melody and harmony.
Mellophone or French Horn
The mellophone looks like a cross between a French horn and a trumpet. It's often used in marching bands in place of the French horn because its bell faces forward instead of sideways or backward. This helps to amplify the sound. French horns are also common in marching bands as they add depth to the bass lines of the music.
Sousaphone Tuba
The tuba produces the lowest sounds in the marching band. This extremely large instrument produces intense, bass tones that add harmony and rhythm to music. Sousaphone tubas are often seen in marching bands because they are made to coil around a performer's body for easy carrying.
Woodwind Instruments
Woodwind instruments add variety to any marching band. Some instruments play softer melodies while others add jazzy undertones.
Flute
The flute is a reedless instrument that produces beautiful, high-pitched tones. It often carries the melody of a musical piece.
Clarinet
This reed instrument has a cylindrical shape that forms a bell at one end. It can play many tones both high and low, with a great range of sound.
Piccolo
The piccolo is basically a small flute and the highest-pitched instrument in most bands. It adds vibrancy to music compositions and is often played in solos.
Saxophones
Probably best known for its use in jazz music, the saxophone is a powerful and extremely versatile instrument.
- The alto saxophone is used to play a wide range of musical genres and has a higher pitch than the tenor sax.
- The tenor saxophone has a larger mouthpiece that connects to a crook in the neck and produces a deeper, bass sound.
Although made of brass, the saxophone is considered a woodwind instrument due to its reeded mouthpiece and playing technique.
Related: Most Popular Musical Instruments & Why People Love Them
Features of a Marching Band
The size and make-up of marching bands vary greatly depending on participation levels and budget. Some bands are small and only have a couple dozen instruments while others are quite large and boast about their hundreds of performers.
Some bands also have stationary sections that include large instruments that can't be moved, such as keyboards, the organ, or timpani drums. Some examples of marching band instrumentation include:
- The Ohio State University Marching Band has 228 instruments and features no woodwinds.
- The University of Michigan Marching Band features 300 instruments.
- The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band at Texas A&M University is the largest military marching band in the nation, with over 400 members.
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The Purdue University “All-American” Marching Band has over 389 musicians, and interestingly, the band was formed one year before the university's football team!
Purdue marching band alumni include astronaut Neil Armstrong and popcorn pundit Orville Redenbacher!
No matter how many instruments make up a marching band, it's important to have a well-balanced sound with a heavier brass section and fewer woodwinds. The drum line will usually feature the lowest number of instruments.
Marching Bands Can Include More Than Musicians
In addition to instruments, many marching bands add other exciting elements to their performances. For example, some bands may feature a color guard or majorettes. They may also have groups of dancers or acrobatic performers.
The entire band is usually headed by an elaborately dressed drum major who helps keep the band in rhythm and directs their marching and performances.
Things to Consider Before Joining a Marching Band
Marching bands do so much more than just perform at football games. Here are some fast facts to consider before jumping into the drum line!
- Marching band is a performance sport.
- During band camp, musicians should expect to walk five to ten miles a day while carrying instruments.
- During the brief half-time show (about ten minutes), marching band performers may clock four to six miles on the field. They march at two to three steps per second.
- Marching band requires multi-tasking skills, with performers having to play memorized music while marching in unison and paying attention to their posture and instrument position.
- Most bands practice and perform in all types of weather. So rain or shine, hot or cold, plan to be present.
Enjoyable Entertainment
Marching bands have been bringing joy to crowds for decades. Whether they're marching in a national parade or performing at an evening hometown football game, the music made by the instruments in a marching band along with the added performers bring excitement and flair to any audience.
These groups continue to raise the entertainment bar and will undoubtedly be an event staple for generations to come.
