1. Timbre

2. Review – What is the definition of timbre?
The type of sound created
Refered to as tone color

3. Instrument Families

4. Vocal Ranges Soprano Alto Tenor Bass
The four MAIN vocal ranges from highest to lowest are:
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass

5. Instrument Family Research
How does each family of instruments produce sound?
List 6-8 examples of instruments in each family.
Pick (1) instrument –
Earliest “occurrence”
How does that specific instrument produce sound?
What is it used for now?
Five basic families:
Aerophones
Idiophones
Membranophones
Chordophones
Electrophones

6. Classifications of Timbres
Aerophones:
Instruments that produce sound by a vibrating column of air.
Flute
Tuba
Harmonica

7. Idiophones:
Simple, solid instruments that produce sound by being struck, scraped, or shaken.
Gongs
Cymbals
Rattles
Xylophones

8. Membranophones:
Instruments that produce sound by striking a skin or membrane stretched across a resonating chamber.
Conga
Drums
Timpani

9. Guitar Harp Violin String Bass Chordophones:
Instruments that create sound by striking or plucking a tight string.
Guitar
Harp
Violin
String Bass

10. Electrophones:
Instruments that generate sound from electricity.
Organs
Synthesizers
Electric Guitar

11. Families of Instruments
Brass: trumpet, trombone, etc.
Woodwinds: Clarinet, Flute, etc.
Strings: Violin, Cello, etc.
Percussion: Snare Drum, Gong, etc.

12. Name the Source Listen to these seven musical excerpts.
Identify all the timbres and the instruments producing the sound you hear.
Then classify the instruments according to their appropriate category.
All five classification categories are represented.