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Jazz
Ragtime and blues were major influences on early jazz coming out of New Orleans. The blend of African rhythms, European musical styles, and varying degrees of improvisation catapulted artists like Louis Armstrong into pioneering figures and giants of the early music industry. Over the years, jazz has evolved, expanded, and developed, passing through many distinctive phases, each with its own slightly varied style. Each phase of jazz can be recognized through its tempo, instrumentation or melodic style. In all styles of jazz, improvisation is a fundamental element.
MUSIC THEORY
Jazz is usually played in duple meter, 2 or 4 beats per measure, most commonly found in subgenres like swing, bebop and standard jazz. Less commonly, jazz is played in triple meter and is saved for pieces like waltz's and ballads. While duple and triple meters are the most common, some more experimental jazz pieces have been found in rarer meters like 5/4 or 7/4.
Jazz uses a variety of seventh chords with extensions and alteration. Players have been known to substitute chords, replacing standard chords with altered chords.
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