WoodwWoodwindindFamilyFamily

Woodwind FamilyWoodwind FamilyCharacteristicsCharacteristics

• Originally made from wood

• Mouthpiece: fixed hole,

single reed, double reed

• Single column

• Keys to cover holes in the

body

• Bell

More About the Woodwind FamilyMore About the Woodwind Family

• Woodwinds are any instrument that is played by forcing air past a vibrating reed or across an opening

• Woodwinds are made of all kinds of materials, but mainly wood and metal.

• A reed is a small piece of cane wood that is used on the mouthpiece

– Single reed – Double reed is different in that both sides are cane, rather than part of a

mouthpiece

ClarinetClarinet• Popular woodwind instrument

• Can play a range of notes from high to low

• Single reed

• Held vertically

• Bell

SaxophoneSaxophone• The saxophone looks like it ought to be a brass instrument, it’s in the woodwind family because

the player uses a reed.• Single reed instrument• Used in jazz music• Easier to play than the other woodwinds• Bright sound• Held vertically

OboeOboe• Looks a lot like the English horn• Snake charmers used this instrument• Double reed• Held vertically

English HornEnglish Horn• Double reed• Held vertically• Funny shaped bell “Egg Head”• Look a lot like the oboe

BassoonBassoon• Largest in the Woodwind family

(Almost 8 feet long)

• Plays the lowest sound in the

family and orchestra

• Held vertically

• Double reed

FluteFlute• Originally made from wood but is now made out of

silver-nickel• Played by blowing the breath across the opening• Plays high pitches (but not as high as the piccolo)• Held horizontal (to the side)

PiccoloPiccolo• Piccolo mean “little flute” in Italian• Smallest in the Woodwind family• Plays the highest pitches in the Woodwind

family and the entire orchestra• Played horizontally (to the side)• No reed just a fixed hole

Single ReedSingle Reed• Clarinet

• Saxophone

Double ReedDouble Reed• Oboe

• English horn

• Bassoon

No ReedNo Reed

• Piccolo

• Flute

Woodwind Family SoundWoodwind Family Sound

• Woodwinds are played by blowing into them through the reed or across the top of a hole cut into the instrument. The noise comes from the vibrating air resonating inside the tube.

• To change the pitch, the player opens or closes holes cut into the instrument with his/her fingers or by pushing levers (keys) that cover the holes.