8. Orchestral Instrument Families


Instrument Families of the Orchestra:

  • Instruments are grouped by how the produce sound or vibrations.


Strings:


Strings are made to vibrate by running a bow across the tops...

or by plucking the strings with a finger or a pick.

Percussion:

  • Percussive instruments make vibrations by hitting one object (usually a stick or mallet) against another (a membrane made of skin, plastic or metal):


A piano is considered a percussive instrument because its sound is made by hammers that hit strings.

Woodwinds

A woodwind makes sound by forcing air passed a thin wooden reed (usually one or two). The sound is then pushed through a tube with multiple stops that change the pitch.


Brass

Brass instruments also force air through a tube but the initial sound is made with a mouthpiece where the lips are buzzed. The tones of the instrument are caused by changing the buzzing of the lips and a series of valves:


For Extra Help go to this interactive module to learn about theses instrument families: