Exploring the Families of Musical Instruments!

•Musical instruments, like plants and animals, are categorized into

families. •Traditional classical orchestra

instruments are divided into four distinct families.

CATEGORIES:

THE BRASS FAMILY

Brass instruments were traditionally made of brass, but today, we

recognize that some instruments are classed as “brass” although they’re

made of other materials. Some instruments made of brass are

in fact not in the brass family!

BRASS INSTRUMENTS CONTINUED

Brass instruments create sound by the musician ‘buzzing’ their lips into a round mouthpiece.

• Brass instruments usually have long, sometimes coiled tubing.

French Horn Trumpet

Other brass instruments include the euphonium, the tuba and the

trombone.

OTHER BRASS INSTRUMENTS

Euphonium

Tuba Trombone

The Woodwind Family

Woodwinds are instruments whose sound is created by the musician’s breath. However, these instruments do not

require the ‘buzzing’ that the brass need.

There are two types of woodwinds: flutes and reeds.

WOODWINDS CONTINUED

The Flute family consists of instruments with which you blow over a hole or edge to

create the sound. These include all flutes, recorders, and various types of whistles.

Flute Recorder

Most of the woodwinds have a mouthpiece with either one or two reeds. When the musician blows into the mouthpiece, the reed vibrates to create the sound.

Clarinet

Comparison of the sizes of 4 different

woodwinds.

Be careful!The Saxophone is classified as a woodwind instrument. Although it’s body is made of

brass, the mouthpiece contains a reed.

The Strings Family

Instruments whose sounds are created by using strings are members of the string

family. The strings may be plucked, scratched with a bow, or strummed.

John Mayer

Cello Electric Bass

String Instruments include the cello and bass.

•There are many different types of guitars, and they can be found in cultures all around the world. The Classical

Guitar is often used in modern symphonies.

Left: Classical Guitar Center: Mandolin Right: Banjo

Harps are also part of the string family; the harp is included in the classical orchestra.

Left: Classic HarpRight: Lyre (ancestor of the harp)

The Percussion Family

Percussion instruments are those that are played by striking or shaking.

All drums are percussion instruments.

Often, drums are used to keep the rhythm in a musical piece

Some percussion instruments are tuned instruments, which means you can play notes in a

scale on them.

Left: Chimes

Bottom Left: Glockenspiel

Bottom Right: Xylophone

Right: Bells

Glockenspiels are made of metal. Xylophones are made of wood.

OTHER PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS

Left: Tambourine Center: Cymbals Right: Maracas

Left: Triangle Center: Cowbell Right: Wood block

ANY QUESTIONS?