Swing is a musical term that describes music played with the rhythmic emphasis is on the off-beat, and a triplet feel to the eight notes - what we call a swing rhythm. Swing music originated in the early 1930s out of traditional New Orleans jazz. A main difference between the two is that New Orleans jazz has a two-beat rhythm (think of the oom-pah sounds of a tuba), as opposed to the steady, driving four-beat rhythm of swing.

 

Some sub-genres of swing include Big Band swing and Gypsy jazz, and although not technically swing, New Orleans or Traditional jazz enjoys much popularity within the modern swing dance scene.