Marching bands are categorized based on various criteria like primary function, instrumentation and style – although many organizations may fill multiple roles.

Military style bands

Such bands as military bands and corps of drums were historically the first marching bands. Their instrumentation varies, but usually contains brass, percussion, and woodwinds. Taking into consideration their primary purpose, military marching bands usually march in a forward direction with straight lines. Music is performed at a constant rhythm to facilitate the uniform marching of the whole military troop with which the band is playing.

Active duty military marching bands often perform in ceremonial parades with other military formations and their manner of a live unplugged ensemble corresponds to that of other military personnel. Almost all military marching bands have disappeared from schools in the United States because of lack of competition venues, military personnel and interest, aside from three notable bands – the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band from Texas A&M University, the Highty-Tighties of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, and the Cadets of Norwich University Military College of Vermont, the oldest collegiate band in the United States and the nation’s first private military academy. There is also a pocket of about 80 high school military marching bands in East Texas, influenced by the Aggie Band in nearby College Station. They have formed the National Association of Military Marching Bands in order to save and continue the tradition of military marching.

Show bands

Show bands mainly perform on fields (for example, a football field) and are used to entertain peoples during sporting events, go to competitions (especially at the high school level), and sometimes to perform at parades and other events. During football games, they usually perform their show before the game, at halftime and sometimes after the game as well. Competitive show bands make only one show that they constantly improve during a season, whereas bands focused on entertainment rather than competition generally make a unique and not so technically difficult show for each game. Such shows usually include three to five musical pieces accompanied by formations. The show design also depends on the type of show band. For example, a typical college half-time show is designed for audience entertainment, whereas a competitive marching band might be more interested in showing off their musical and visual abilities to the judges.

Carnival bands

Carnival bands are a UK variant of show bands. Carnival bands generally march rhythmically to the music, and may also participate in such events as parades and competitions. They include brass and percussion, but usage of woodwinds is optional. The main competition body for carnival bands is the Carnival Band Secretaries League.

Scramble bands

Scramble bands (also called as ‘Scatter’ bands) are a variation of show bands. They as a rule do not march in time with the music, but scramble from design to design and often use comedic elements into their performances. This style is used by most of the bands in the Ivy League.

Drum and bugle corps style

Drum and bugle corps is a genre of a unplugged band ensemble rose from military signaling units. There are two types of drum and bugle corps – classic and modern corps. As is understood from the name, bugles and drums form the musical background of the corps, but modern competitive drum corps uses other brass instruments and orchestral percussion.

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