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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.

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 14, 2025

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

From Salon • Oct. 14, 2025

Simon Dawson, a former session drummer and Steve's rhythm section partner of the past 12 years with British Lion.

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2024

Rhythm Section — The rhythm section of a band is the group of instruments that usually provide the background rhythm and chords.

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

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