Musical Instruments

Instrument

Any mechanism-other than the voice that produces musical sounds

WESTERN INSTRUMENTS1. String2. Woodwind3. Brass4. Percussion5. Keyboard6. Electronic

Register

The total range in which an instrument is played

String Instruments

The violin, viola, cello, harp, and double bass (bass) make up an orchestra’s string section.

Violin- smallest and highest range Double bass- biggest and lowest range These instruments can be played with

a bow or plucked with the finger. Bow- slightly curved stick strung tightly

with horsehair

VIO

LIN Often used as a solo instrument

VIO

LA About 2 inches longer than the violin, thus the range is somewhat lower

CELLO Member of the violin family but set an octave lower. Also has an endpin to help

with the weight of the instrument.

HA

RP

An ancient plucked-string instrument with a triangular shape

DO

UB

LE B

AS

S Very heavy tone and less agile than other string instruments. (Car)

Woodwind Instruments

Traditionally made from wood but now usually made from metal or some other materials.

Sound is generated by a vibrating air column in a tube

All of these instruments have holes that are opened and closed by fingers or pads.

Woodwind cont’d…

Flute and piccolo are played from blowing across the edge of the mouth hole

Rest of the woodwind instruments have a reed- thin piece of cane that is on the mouthpiece that vibrates by the air.

Single Reed- clarinet, saxophone Double Reed- oboe, English Horn,

bassoon

Woodwind Families

Flute Family1. Piccolo2. Flute Clarinet Family1. Clarinet2. Bass Clarinet Oboe Family1. Oboe2. English Horn Bassoon Family1. Bassoon2. Contrabassoon

PIC

CO

LO

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Half the size of the flute and plays an octave higher

FLUTE High range and extremely agile

Oboe

English Horn

Clarinet

Bass Clarinet

Bassoon

Contrabassoon

Saxophone

Brass Instruments

Powerful instruments often used at climaxes and for heroic statements

Family includes the trumpet, French Horn, trombone, and tuba.

Played by blowing into a cup or funnel shaped mouthpiece

Brass players can alter the tone by placing a mute into the bell of the horn (most common in Jazz)

Trumpet

French Horn

Trombone

Tuba

Percussion

Instruments that are struck by hand, with sticks, or with hammers

Used to emphasize rhythm and to heighten climaxes

Timpani (Kettledrums)- generally plays 2 to 4 each tuned to a different pitch

Metal Bars or Glockenspiel- played with 2 hammers

Xylophone

Celesta

Chimes

Snare Drum

Bass Drum

Tambourine- shake or strike with knuckles

Triangle

Cymbals

Gong

Keyboard Instruments

The piano, harpsichord, organ, and accordion are the best known

Piano has 88 keys that span more than 7 octaves

Harpsichord- replaced by the piano Pipe Organ- many sets of pipes controlled

from several keyboards and pedals Accordion- free steel reeds controlled by

a treble keyboard

Pipe Organ

HARPSICORD

Accordion

Electronic Instruments

Produce or amplify sound through electronic means

Invented in 1904, but has had a serious impact from 1950 to the present

Ex. electric piano, organ, guitar, tape studios, synthesizers, computers, and other technologies

SYN

TH

ES

IZER System of electronic components that generate, modify, and control sound