ARTS & HUMANITIES

Musical

Instrument

Families

Timbre

Timbre (a.k.a. tone color) is the special sound that makes one instrument or voice different from another.

VOICE PARTS

Soprano Highest female vocal range

Alto Lowest female vocal range

Tenor Highest male vocal range

Bass Lowest male vocal range

STRINGSInstruments that make sounds by

vibrating the string in one of the following ways:

1) Drawing a bow across them

2) Plucking them

3) Striking them

STRINGS

Guitar

Harp

Violin family

WOODWINDSInstruments originally made from wood that are now often made of metal or plastic. They set a column of air into vibration by wind moving:1) Across a mouthpiece

2) Into a whistle-like mouthpiece

3) Over 1 reed

4) Over 2 reeds

WOODWINDS

Flute

Recorder

Clarinet

Oboe

BRASS

Instruments usually made of brass. They create sound from the vibration of the performer’s lips buzzing into a cuplike mouthpiece. They have 2 ends.

1) Mouthpiece end

2) Bell shaped end (to amplify sound)

BRASS

TrumpetTrombone

French HornTuba

PERCUSSION

These are the most ancient instruments. They are used to make rhythm. There are two groups of percussion instruments.

PERCUSSIONMembranophones

Also known as the drum family. An instrument with a membrane (drum head) stretched across a form (drum body). The membrane is struck by a hand or with a stick.

PERCUSSIONMembranophones

Tambourine

Snare Drum

Bass

Bongo

PERCUSSION

Idiophones

Make sounds by striking rubbing, shaking, or rattling the materials they are made of.

PERCUSSION

Idiophones

XylophoneChimesTriangleCymbals