Page "Bluegrass music" Paragraph 2

In bluegrass, as in some forms of jazz, one or more instruments each takes its turn playing the melody and improvising around it, while the others perform accompaniment ; this is especially typified in tunes called breakdowns.

This is in contrast to old-time music, in which all instruments play the melody together or one instrument carries the lead throughout while the others provide accompaniment.

Breakdowns are often characterized by rapid tempos and unusual instrumental dexterity and sometimes by complex chord changes.