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rhythm section

American

noun

Music.

band instruments, as drums or bass, that supply rhythm rather than harmony or melody.
the group of players in a band who play such instruments.

rhythm section British

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of rhythm section

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

rhythm section

The rhythm section of bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Watts locks in, while Richards and Wood converse with their guitars as only they can.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

Radiohead's secret sauce has always been their rhythm section - who manage to locate sinewy, danceable grooves even when presented with their bandmate's most challenging material.

From BBC ● Nov. 21, 2025

“The rhythm section was wild and loud. I was immediately grabbed.”

From Salon ● Oct. 14, 2025

The rhythm section remained taut and rigid—live musicians mimicking the curt slap of hip-hop.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 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

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023