STRINGED INSTRUMENTS

Bowed string instruments

• In these types of instruments, sound is made by rubbing the strings with a bow.

• Includes the violin, viola, cello and contrabass

Violin

• Has 4 strings• The soprano voice in the

string family• Held under the chin, resting

on the shoulder

• http://www.dsokids.com/listen/InstrumentDetail.aspx?instrumentID=3

Viola

• The alto voice in the string family

• Slightly larger than the violin• Played just like the violinhttp://

www.dsokids.co?m/listen/InstrumentDetail.aspxinstrumentID=5

Cello

• The tenor voice in the string family

• Shaped like a violin but much larger

• Is held between the player’s knees

• http://www.dsokids.com/listen/InstrumentDetail.aspx?instrumentID=6

Double Bass (Contrabass)

• The largest and lowest instrument in the string family

• Because of its size it is usually played standing or sitting on a high chair

• http://www.dsokids.com/listen/InstrumentDetail.aspx?instrumentID=7

Plucked String Instruments

Instruments in which sound is produced by plucking the strings with a plectrum or with

the fingers.

Harp

• Has about 45 strings• Strings are plucked by

hand • There are pedals at the

bottom of the harp that adjust the length of strings to change sounds

Guitar

• A stringed instrument, usually containing 6 or 12 strings

• Played by plucking or strumming

Harpsichord

• Played like a keyboard

• Sound is made by plucking the strings with plectrums using a keyboard.

Lute

• A plucked string instrument with a long neck

• Shaped like a half an egg

Struck String Instruments

Instruments that produce sound when small hammers strike the strings, triggered by a

keyboard.

Piano

• Sound is made by small hammers striking its strings

• The hammers strike the strings when the player’s hands press the piano keys

Woodwind Instruments

Instruments that are mostly made of wood and have a reed mouthpiece.

Sound is produced by air passing through the inside of the tube. The shorter the length of the tube, the

higher the sound that is produced

Flute• A narrow tube with a

row of holes covered by keys on the side

• The player blows air over the small hole in the mouthpiece to produce sound

Piccolo• Basically just a small

flute

• The pitch is higher than the flute

Bassoon

• A large, double reed instrument

• Produces the lowest sound of all the woodwind instruments

Clarinet

• Made from wood

• Has a single reed

• Player uses both hands to press the metal keys

Oboe

• Similar to the clarinet

• Has a double reed

• Has a skinny, tubular body

Recorder

• Made of wood, has whistle- mouthpieces.

• There are 8 different sizes

Saxophone• Has a single reed

• The only woodwind instrument made of brass

• Especially used in jazz music

Brass Instruments

These instruments produce sound by the player vibrating their lips while blowing air through

a cup or funnel-shaped mouthpiece

Trumpet

• The highest sounding instrument in the Brass Family

• Has 3 keys

French Horn

• Made of 3.6 meters of tubing

• The player presses the keys with his left hand and puts his right hand inside of the bell

Tuba

• The lowest sounding member of the Brass Family

• Has 4-5 keys

• Is held in the players lap

Trombone

• Instead of keys, the trombone has a slide that changes its length

• Moving the slide makes different sounds

Percussion

Instruments in the Percussion family are played by being hit, shaken, or scraped. These

instruments provide a variety of sounds.

Timpani• Also called “kettledrums”

• The top is usually made from cowskin or plastic

• Hit with a stick or mallet

• Has foot pedals

Snare Drum

• Has 2 drum sides

• The player hits the top with wooden drumsticks

Bass Drum

• Much larger than the snare drum

• Played on its side so both sides can be hit

Gong• Large, circular pieces of

brass that are hit with mallets

• In China, gongs were used to make announcements and send messages

Xylophone

• Made of hard wood bars of different lengths

• The player hits the bars with mallets to make high-pitched sounds

Cymbals

• 2 large, brass plates

• Made in all different sizes, each having different sounds

Electronic Instruments

Electric Guitar

• Is connected to speakers

• Has metal strings

• The strings vibrate to make sound

Synthesizer

• Played using a keyboard

• Can make a large variety of sounds

Mixed Woodwind Family

Includes instruments that cannot be included in any of the other groups due to their

characteristics. These instruments use different ways to vibrate air to make sounds.

Organ• When the player

presses the keys air flows into matching pipes

• The vibration of the air in the pipes creates the sounds of the organ