rhythm section

American  

noun

Music.

1. band instruments, as drums or bass, that supply rhythm rather than harmony or melody.

2. the group of players in a band who play such instruments.

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rhythm section British  

noun

1. those instruments in a band or group (usually piano, double bass, and drums) whose prime function is to supply the rhythm

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Etymology

Origin of rhythm section

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Anchoring the rhythm section with him was bassist Bill Wyman, who was recruited more for his spare VOX AC30 amp that the guitarists could plug into than for his musical skills.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026

The following year, he sounded majestic on the single “Suspicious Minds” and on the album “From Elvis in Memphis,” surrounded by sumptuous strings and a rugged rhythm section.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

In his teens, Dunbar met bassist Robbie Shakespeare and formed the rhythm section of the Revolutionaries, who became regular session musicians at the famed Channel One recording studio.

From BBC • Jan. 26, 2026

Slipshod electric guitars spin like a lazy kite around strident acoustic guitars and a buoyant rhythm section.

From Salon • May 26, 2025

Vocalists, wind instruments, and bowed strings are usually not part of the rhythm section.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones