instrument families. string family the violin –highest sounding from all of the string instruments...
TRANSCRIPT
Instrument FamiliesInstrument Families
String Family
• The Violin– Highest sounding from all of the string instruments– Has the strings E, A, D, G– Is played by plucking the string with the finger, or
using a bow across the strings– The violin reads treble clef
• The Viola– Bigger in size than the violin– Has a lower string, C– Unlike the violin, it does not have an E string– Viola reads alto clef
• The Cello– Strings are tuned just like the viola, but one octave
lower– Has an end-pin on which it stands on the floor– Deeper sounding than the violin and viola– Reads bass clef
• The Bass– Lowest sounding of all the string instruments– Tuned like the violin, but the sound of the strings
are opposite (E is the lowest string, G is the highest string)
– Performers stand up or sit on a stool– Like the cello, the bass reads bass clef
Woodwind Family
• The Flute– A reed-less wind instrument– Sound is produced by the flow of air across the
embouchure – It is held to the performers right, parallel with the
ground
• The Clarinet– Comes in a dozen sizes– Is a single reed instrument– The most common is the B-flat soprano clarinet
• The Saxophone– A single reed instrument– Invented by Adolphe Sax in 1841– The E-flat soprano sax and the B-flat tenor sax are
the most common ones– Particularly associated with jazz music
• The Oboe– A double reed instrument– A large range of timbre and dynamics can be
produced– The oboe tunes the orchestra, giving the musicians
the reference pitch of concert A
• The Bassoon– A double reed instrument– Generally plays in the bass and tenor registers– Has a warm and dark sound