this post was submitted on 11 Nov 2025
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Jazz - For all the jazz lovers

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Welcome to !jazz@lemmy.world, a lemmy community dedicated to all things jazz.

Anything jazz related, including fusion jazz and everything, are all welcome. Be sure to follow these rules.

Feel free to make any suggestions regarding this community and enjoy! Related Communities:

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Lemmy's Jazz Instrument Tier List v1 (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by AbsolutePain@lemmy.world to c/jazz@lemmy.world
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What should I change/add? I'll make a v2 based on comments.

Obviously this is a lighthearted, semi-joke post lol.

Made with the combo setting in mind. Big band maybe requires a different list.

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[–] SlurpingPus@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

Where's the damn bass guitar? Because I'm a Bill Laswell fan, and I'm gonna clobber someone if they say bass guitar doesn't belong in jazz. You just need to listen to something good.

OTOH it's surprising to see the trombone anywhere near the top, as I know of just one album with the trombone as the leading instrument, and briefly heard maybe a handful more.

All in all, this seems to be just your opinion, man. Perhaps do a poll (though they aren't properly supported by many Lemmy frontends — but you can just do one based on upvotes in comments).

[–] AbsolutePain@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

just your opinion

Nah fam this ranking is an objective, self-evident, universal fact jk

No, but you're right. It's just my opinion! It's a post just to start discussion and troll each other a bit.

where is bass guitar

it's in B! Next time i'll use a standard 4 string bass

do one based on upvotes in comments

Yeah my plan is to take the comments into account and do a V2 in a couple weeks. But maybe doing a dedicated post would have been a better idea!

[–] SlurpingPus@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

it’s in B! Next time i’ll use a standard 4 string bass

Sorry man, I didn't recognize it. But, there's no need for the four-string, as unfretted five-string is quite prevalent, and Laswell sports a six-string in that video. But you could probably do better by picturing a black Yamaha or Fender Jazz Bass, it would be more evocative.

(Edit: double oof as I realized that it's Fender Jazz in the pic, but I stand by the notion that it should be black.)

[–] Thedogdrinkscoffee@lemmy.ca 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The ghost of Benny Goodman haunts you for the rest of your days for your blasphemy. Your curse is to hear sing sing sing with a swing at 1/8 tempo and forever a cold wind blows for declaring unjustly the divine clarinet below its station.

[–] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Blasphemy to say that a trumpet can aspire to C.

It's a proud B flat.

[–] AbsolutePain@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

LMAO this will be in v2 for sure

[–] not_woody_shaw@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Bb tier! Love it.

[–] Goldholz@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Why french horn so much down ;-;

[–] AbsolutePain@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago (2 children)

xD I have to admit I haven't listened to a lot of french horn jazzers yet lol. Any song recs?

[–] Thedogdrinkscoffee@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] AbsolutePain@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

Wow that first video is so good. He's swinging pretty hard there, love it. Thanks for sharing!

[–] Goldholz@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 week ago

Sadly not. I only listen to this mix playlist

[–] Mocheeze@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I'd probably move drums to S. It's one of the only ones where the solo has literally no other instruments playing. And they can go a dang long time doing it.

[–] AbsolutePain@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

yah that's a good point, agree!

[–] suff@piefed.social 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

dont rank

[–] not_woody_shaw@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Why are all the saxes tenor?

Flugel above trumpet is weird.

Vibraphone should be above flute.

French Horn and Bagpipes should share a tier. A low one.

Where should Moog Bass go? B?

Edit:

Mic / vocals should be lower. Jazz vocals is an oxymoron [hot take!]

Why's your bass guitar got 5 strings? Jaco only needed 4.

[–] AbsolutePain@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Hey thanks for the input lol i'll incorporate it into v2

Flugel above trumpet is weird

Yeah, I see what you mean. I'll put both in C.

French Horn and Bagpipes should share a tier. A low one.

Yeah I think I'll add bagpipes to E?

Vibraphone should be above flute

This is a mildly hot take I think. For me vibes were borderline C already. If someone has opinions on this please comment to resolve it lol.

Mic / vocals should be lower. Jazz vocals is an oxymoron [hot take!]

VERY hot take. Very curious to hear what others feel about this???

Vocals are very controversial among the jazz community lmao but I'm firmly in the "vocals are great" camp (not that I want to hear vocals all the time, it's just like how I don't want to listen to trumpet or whatever all the time).

Why are all the saxes tenor?

Why’s your bass guitar got 5 strings? Jaco only needed 4

I will fix these in v2!

[–] SlurpingPus@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago

Vocals are great when done well. See e.g. the time when Björk did jazz.

[–] Rumo161@feddit.org 1 points 1 week ago

To create a tierlist for Jazz instruments is very not jazzy