Instrument Families

Strings, Woodwinds, Brass,Percussion & Keyboards

Orchestral Strings

Yo Yo Ma

Violin

Viola

Cello

DoubleBass

Strings Characteristics

Sound is produced by… Instruments are made up of… Pitch is changed by… Other common strings are… Where/How are strings commonly

used today?

Strings Characteristics

Sound is produced by…The vibration of the strings by the finger or

bow

Instruments are made up of…Wood, strings, the bow, sound hole, neck,

pegs (frets) Pitch is changed by…

Lengthening or shortening the string by pressing the finger down on the neck (or by the design of the instrument I.e. the harp)

Strings Characteristics (con’t) Other common strings are…

The harp The Guitar

Where/How are strings commonly used today? Orchestral music, Rock & Roll, Weddings (String Quartets), Horror movies

Orchestral WoodwindsFlute Oboe

Clarinet Bassoon

Woodwinds CharacteristicsSound is produced by…Instruments are made up of…Pitch is changed by…Other common woodwinds are…Where/How are woodwinds commonly used

today?

Woodwinds Characteristics

Sound is produced by… Sound is produced by blowing air through a reed or over a hole. In

the case of a reed, the air makes the reed vibrate producing a characteristic sound.

Instruments are made up of… Reeds – single or double Bell Keys

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FLUTE??? Sometimes in music, there are more exceptions than rules.

Pitch is changed by… Pressing a key to change the distance the air has to travel.

The longer the distance, the lower the sound.

Woodwind Characteristics (con’t)Other common woodwinds are…

Saxophone Piccolo Recorder

Where/How are woodwinds commonly used today?Oboe tuning Military Bands Ethnic Music

Jazz/Wind Ensembles

Orchestral BrassTrumpet French Horn

Trombone Tuba/Sousaphone

Brass Characteristics Sound is produced by… Instruments are made up of… Pitch is changed by… Other common brass instruments are… Where/How is brass commonly used

today? Why isn’t Saxophone a Brass

Instrument? Why Isn’t A Flute a Brass Instrument?

Brass Characteristics Sound is produced by…

Buzzing Lips (creating vibration by blowing Air) into a Cupped Mouthpiece

Instruments are made up of…Metal MouthpieceValves/slidesBellMetal Body

Pitch is changed by…Pushing a Valve to change the distance the air has

to travel (The further the distance, the lower the sound)

But if there are only 3 valves to push, how do the instruments produce such a wide range of sounds?○ Partials = natural harmonics of the instrument –

changes according to the pressure of players lips against the mouthpiece

Brass Characteristics (con’t)

Other common brass instruments are…Euphonium

Where/How is brass commonly used today?Marching Bands, Race Tracks, Outdoors

Brass Characteristics (con’t) Why isn’t the Saxophone a Brass

Instrument?Reed Mouthpiece Metal Keys

Why Isn’t A Flute a Brass Instrument?Metal Mouthpiece (no buzzing lips) Keys

Orchestral PercussionTimpani Snare Drum CYMBALS

Marimba/xylophone BASS DRUM Triangle

Percussion Characteristics

Sound is produced by…Instruments are made up of…Do Percussion Instruments have

Pitch?Other common Percussion instruments

are…Where/How is Percussion commonly

used today?

Percussion CharacteristicsSound is produced by…

Hitting one object with another

Instruments are made up of…Absolutely AnythingDoes it Make a Sound when you hit it?

Congratulations, you have a percussion Instrument!

Do Percussion Instruments have Pitch? Pitched Vs. Unpitched

Percussion CharacteristicsOther common Percussion instruments are…

Drum Set Conga Steel Drum

Where/How is Percussion commonly used today?

Rock & Roll Military Marching bands

KeyboardsKeyboard Instruments can come from any

of the four instrument families.

Keyboards can sometimes be classified in several different categories at once

Piano – Both Strings and Percussion

Organ - Wind

Not an organ

Harpsichord - StringThe Harpsichord is characteristic of the Baroque Period.

These instruments are light-weight and portable and during the Baroque and Classical period were often transported to and from parties.

Harpsichords are also sometimes associated with Pirates. Arrgh.