Learn the Instruments of the band!

Woodwind Family

Clarinet

Flute

Saxophone

The woodwind family consists of piccolos, flutes, oboes, english horns, clarinets, bassoons, and saxophones.

With the exception of the piccolo and flute, the sound is produced by a vibrating reed.

Different pitches are produced by opening and covering holes along the instrument

How do they make sound?

Brass Family

Trumpet

Trombone Tuba

The brass family typically consists of trumpets, French horns, trombones, euphoniums, and tubas.

Sound is produced by forcing air through the mouthpiece.

With the exception of the trombone, pitches are altered by pressing or releasing valves.

All brass players also tighten or relax their lips to change pitch.

How do they make sound?

Percussion Family

Drum set

Vibraphone

Congas

The percussion family contains the most instruments. Some of the standard instruments include the bass drum, snare drum, timpani, bells, cymbals, and the triangle.

Sound is produced by striking some part of the instrument with a mallet, stick, or hands.

Not all percussion instruments can produce multiple pitches. In most cases the pitch of the instrument is dependent on the size of the instrument.

How do they make sound?

As was mentioned earlier, the biggest determining factor in the pitch an instrument produces is the size of the instrument.

The distance that air travels in the instrument also determines the pitch.

How is the pitch of instruments determined?

The larger and longer an instrument is, the lower the pitch.

The smaller and shorter an instrument, the higher the pitch.

Generally…

One of the easiest ways to see this is with the trombone.

The higher the note is on the staff, the higher the pitch of the note.

Notice how the trombone slide gets longer as the notes get lower?

Some things you can try on your own:

Hold a rubber band so that it is stretched between two fingers. Pluck the rubber band.

Now, increase the distance between your fingers, stretching the rubber band. Pluck the rubber band again.

What do you notice about the sound? Does it sound lower or higher than before?

Try the same thing with rubber bands of different widths. What do you notice?

Instruments in Band