The Woodwind Family

The woodwind section of the world-famous Philharmonia Orchestra.

The FluteFlute

Piccolo

Although it is now commonly made of metal (nickel), the flute was originally made out of wood, with metal keys. Some modern flutes are still made of wood.

The piccolo is like a miniature flute. It is the smallest and highest pitched instrument in the woodwind family.

The Oboe

Oboe

ReedCor Anglais

(English Horn)

The Oboe is directly descended from the Shawm which originated in the Middle East in ancient times. Today, it is usually made of Ebony and has silver or silver-plated keys.

The Cor Anglais is slightly larger than an Oboe and has an “onion” shaped bell. It is lower in pitch than the Oboe.

The Clarinet

Clarinet

Reed

Mouthpiece

Unlike the Oboe (or Bassoon), the Clarinet uses a SINGLE reed, which is attached to the mouthpiece with a LIGATURE.

The Clarinet was invented in the mid-late eighteenth century. It is traditionally made of Ebony with silver or silver-plated keys.

The Clarinet also has a number of woodwind “relatives”, the most common of which is the Bass Clarinet. It is bigger, heavier and lower-pitched than the Clarinet.

The Saxophone

Although not made of wood, the Saxophone IS a woodwind instrument. Like the Clarinet, it uses a single reed fixed to the mouthpiece with a ligature.

There are four types of saxophone. From highest pitched to lowest, they are –SopranoAltoTenor Bass

This picture is of an Alto Saxophone.

The Bassoon The Bassoon, like the

oboe, is played using a double reed.

The reed is similar to the one used by the Oboe, but it is bigger and “fatter”.

The Contra-Bassoon The Bassoon’s “big

brother”, the Contra (or Double) Bassoon is the lowest pitched woodwind instrument.