swing
genresswing
A rhythmic feel where pairs of notes are played with a long-short lilt rather than evenly.
Swing is both a rhythmic feel and a jazz subgenre. The swing feel takes pairs of eighth notes that would be played evenly in classical music and gives them a lilting, long-short pattern. This creates the bouncing, propulsive rhythm that defined the big band era of the 1930s and 40s.
As a genre, swing refers to the big band jazz of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, and Glenn Miller. Swing bands were the pop music of their era — they filled dance halls, dominated the radio, and shaped American culture. The phrase it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing (from the Ellington song) captured the essence of what made this music irresistible.