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| | MSN Encarta - Rhythm-and-Blues Music |
 | | Despite vast differences between genres, such as rap and jump blues, there are common musical and social elements that link the many styles of R&B. The approach to musical rhythm is the most important distinguishing characteristic of R&B music and its substyles. |
 | | Timbre is another important distinguishing characteristic of R&B. Timbre refers to the quality or color of a sound—for example, a listener may tell a saxophone and a guitar apart, or distinguish one vocalist from another, by the differences in their timbre. |
 | | Typically, the rhythm section consists of a drum set, bass, piano (sometimes organ instead of or in addition to piano), and guitar, while the horn section features saxophones, trumpets, and occasionally trombones. |
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