Instrument Families

Family Categories Strings Woodwinds Brass Percussion

strings Cello Bass

String Anatomy

String Facts All of the string family instruments are made of wood Their sizes are what makes them sound different Highest to lowest pitched strings Violin Viola Cello Bass Strings are made of gut, steel, or nylon Strings can be bowed with a bow or plucked with the fingers

Woodwinds Bassoon Clarinet Saxophone Oboe Flute

Woodwind Facts Woodwinds use vibrating air to produce different sounds All woodwinds except the flute uses a reed to make sound. Aside from wood, woodwinds are also made of bone, ivory, or metal

Brass Trumpet French Horn Trombone Tuba

Brass Facts Usually made from brass Sound is produced by “buzzing” into a mouthpiece Brass is made up of really long tubing Brass instruments are loud instruments They are used in military bands, orchestra’s, and bands

Percussion

Percussion Facts Percussion is a HUGE family It includes any instrument that can be shaken, scraped, or struck Percussion family includes: Piano Timpani Chimes Cymbals Xylophone Bass Drum Triangle And many more A percussionist may play as many as a dozen instruments at a time in an orchestra