Instruments

Introduction

Learn about the different families and different types of instruments.

The Srings

Violin:

The violin is by far the most common orchestral instrument. It is also the smallest out of all the strings and has the highest pitch. This is usually the first choice of musicians who want to learn a string instrument (unless they have viola, cello, or bass friends).

Viola:

The viola is slightly larger than the violin and has a deeper pitch in comparision. It is also in the "middle register" of the string family. Although not as popular as the violin, it is still a vital part of the orchestra.

Cello

The cello is still bigger than the violin and viola. It has a beautiful, mellow sound. The cello must rest on the floor because it is too big to be held like the violin or viola.

Bass

The bass is the biggest instrument in the string section. It also plays the widest assortment of music from classical to broadway to jazz. Although it appears the same size as the cello in the picture, it actually about 1 1/2 to 2 times taller.

The Winds

Flute

The flute really isn't a woodwind anymore, and is normally made of metal now. It produces very bright and joyful notes.

Piccolo

The piccolo is the smaller relative of the flute. It is exactly the same in all respects -- notes and fingerings -- but is a lot smaller than the flute and it has a higher pitch.

Clarinet

The clarinet is a single reed instrument. It plays a wide range of music from classi

cal to jazz. It also has a very wide range of notes that can be played.

Oboe

The oboe looks very similiar to the clarinet except for the fact that it has a double reed. The oboe is widely used in classical compositions

Saxophone

The saxophone is a single reed instrument. Depending on the player it can sound mellow or strong. It does everything from pop to big band to jazz but also has its place in classical music.

Bassoon

The bassoon is a double reed instrument. Because of its size, it plays very low notes and is often the backbone of the orchestra