introduction to musical instruments

Musical Instruments

4 Instrument Families

Brass

Woodwind

Percussion

Strings

Brass Family

Sound from buzzing lips

Made of brass

Mouthpiece

Bell

Valves or slide

Water key

Woodwind Family

Sound from wind

Originally made of wood

Mouthpiece

Keys

Pads

Percussion Family

Sound from sticks or mallets

Involves striking

String Family

Not in band

Sound from strings

Bowed or plucked

Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass

Guitar, Banjo

Harp

Brass

Tru m p et H orn

H ig h B rass

Trom b on e B ariton e Tu b a

L ow B rass

Trumpet

3 piston valves

Mouthpiece

Bell in front

Trumpet

Horn

3 or 4 rotary valves

Mouthpiece

Hand in bell

Horn

Trombone

Slide

Mouthpiece

Bell in front

Trombone

Baritone

3 piston valves

Mouthpiece

Bell at top

Looks like baby tuba

Baritone

Tuba

3 or 4 valves

Piston or rotary

Mouthpiece

Bell at top

Largest brass (lowest)

Tuba

Woodwind

P icco lo F lu te

N o R eed

C la rin e t S axop h on e

S in g le R eed

O b oe B assoon

D ou b le R eed

Flute

Air vibrates in flute

Blow across tone hole

Held to the side

Flute

Clarinet

Reed vibrates against mouthpiece

Ligature

In front of body

Clarinet

Saxophone

Reed vibrates against mouthpiece

Ligature

Made of brass

Has keys

Saxophone

Oboe

Reed vibrates against itself

Looks like clarinet

Oboe

Bassoon

Reed vibrates against itself

Uses seat strap

Bassoon

Percussion

Mallets

Drums

Auxiliary

Percussion: Mallets

Bells

Xylophone

Marimba

Chimes

Percussion: Drums

Snare Drum

Bass Drum

Timpani

Percussion: Auxiliary

Cymbals

Tambourine

Triangle

Wood block