STRINGED

INSTRUMENTS
 Bowed string instruments

• In these types of instruments, sound is made

by rubbing the strings with a bow.
• Includes the violin, viola, cello and contrabass
 Violin

• Has 4 strings
• The soprano voice in the
string family
• Held under the chin, resting
on the shoulder

• http://www.dsokids.com/listen/InstrumentDe
tail.aspx?instrumentID=3
 Viola

• The alto voice in the string

family
• Slightly larger than the violin
• Played just like the violin
http://
www.dsokids.co?m/listen/InstrumentDetail.aspxinstr
=5
 Cello
• The tenor voice in the string
family

• Shaped like a violin but much

larger

• Is held between the player’s

knees

• http://www.dsokids.com/listen/InstrumentD
etail.aspx?instrumentID=6
Double Bass (Contrabass)

• The largest and lowest

instrument in the string
family
• Because of its size it is
usually played standing or
sitting on a high chair

• http://www.dsokids.com/listen/Instrumen
tDetail.aspx?instrumentID=7
Plucked String Instruments

Instruments in which sound is produced by

plucking the strings with a plectrum or with
the fingers.
Harp
• Has about 45 strings
• Strings are plucked by
hand
• There are pedals at the
bottom of the harp that
adjust the length of
strings to change
sounds
 Guitar
• A stringed instrument,
usually containing 6 or 12
strings

• Played by plucking or
strumming
Harpsichord
• Played like a keyboard

• Sound is made by
plucking the strings with
plectrums using a
keyboard.
Lute

• A plucked string
instrument with a long
neck

• Shaped like a half an egg

 Struck String Instruments

Instruments that produce sound when small

hammers strike the strings, triggered by a
keyboard.
Piano
• Sound is made by small
hammers striking its
strings
• The hammers strike
the strings when the
player’s hands press
the piano keys
 Woodwind Instruments

Instruments that are mostly made of wood and have

a reed mouthpiece.
Sound is produced by air passing through the inside
of the tube. The shorter the length of the tube, the
higher the sound that is produced
Flute
• A narrow tube with a
row of holes covered by
keys on the side

• The player blows air

over the small hole in
the mouthpiece to
produce sound
Piccolo
• Basically just a small
flute

• The pitch is higher than

the flute
Bassoon
• A large, double reed
instrument

• Produces the lowest

sound of all the
woodwind
instruments
Clarinet
• Made from wood

• Has a single reed

• Player uses both hands

to press the metal keys
Oboe
• Similar to the clarinet

• Has a double reed

• Has a skinny, tubular

body
Recorder
• Made of wood, has
whistle- mouthpieces.

• There are 8 different

sizes
Saxophone
• Has a single reed

• The only woodwind

instrument made of
brass

• Especially used in jazz

music
 Brass Instruments

These instruments produce sound by the player

vibrating their lips while blowing air through
a cup or funnel-shaped mouthpiece
Trumpet
• The highest sounding
instrument in the Brass
Family

• Has 3 keys
French Horn
• Made of 3.6 meters of
tubing

• The player presses the

keys with his left hand and
puts his right hand inside
of the bell
Tuba
• The lowest sounding
member of the Brass
Family

• Has 4-5 keys

• Is held in the players lap

Trombone
• Instead of keys, the
trombone has a slide
that changes its length

• Moving the slide makes

different sounds
 Percussion

Instruments in the Percussion family are played

by being hit, shaken, or scraped. These
instruments provide a variety of sounds.
Timpani
• Also called “kettledrums”

• The top is usually made

from cowskin or plastic

• Hit with a stick or mallet

• Has foot pedals

Snare Drum
• Has 2 drum sides

• The player hits the top

with wooden drumsticks
Bass Drum

• Much larger than the

snare drum

• Played on its side so

both sides can be hit
 Gong
• Large, circular pieces of
brass that are hit with
mallets

• In China, gongs were used to

make announcements and
send messages
Xylophone
• Made of hard wood
bars of different
lengths

• The player hits the bars

with mallets to make
high-pitched sounds
Cymbals
• 2 large, brass plates

• Made in all different

sizes, each having
different sounds
Electronic Instruments
Electric Guitar
• Is connected to speakers

• Has metal strings

• The strings vibrate to

make sound
Synthesizer
• Played using a keyboard

• Can make a large variety

of sounds
 Mixed Woodwind Family

Includes instruments that cannot be included in

any of the other groups due to their
characteristics. These instruments use different
ways to vibrate air to make sounds.
Organ
• When the player
presses the keys air
flows into matching
pipes
• The vibration of the
air in the pipes creates
the sounds of the
organ