Though any instrument could play the melody at any time in any given marching band musical piece, and in many pieces each instrument plays the melody or a variation of it at some point, the most common instruments to play thOnly the front line instruments get solos in traditional jazz. ... The head An out chorus A solo chorus An ensemble chorus. The main melody, which is played at the beginning of a jazz tune. Is the head. When everyone in a group embellishes a written melody at the same time ... Usually plays the melody. Trumpet/cornet. Typical instrument setup ..e melody are the trumpet, clarinet, piccolo/flute, and alto saxophone.