In a Symphonic Orchestra instruments are divided into four

categories:

1) WOODWIND - The sound is obtained from blowing air

2) BRASS - The sound is obtained also from blowing air

3) STRINGS - The sound is obtained from vibration of strings

4) PERCUSSION - The sound is obtained from striking

1) WOODWIND CATEGORY
Belongs to this category:

- PICCOLO - Similar to the transverse flute but smaller, is the

sharpest and agile instrument in the orchestra. Is played
transversally, blowing into an oval hole situated at one end.

- TRANSVERSE FLUTE - Builded generally in metal. Is played blowing

air in an oval hole situated at one end, activating a various number
of keys that open or close holes situated in the body of the
instrument, changing the pitch of the sounds.

- OBOE - Is a wind instrument with double reed, the sound is light

and piercing. Is made of ebony or rosewood. Keys and mechanics
are made of metal.

- ENGLISH HORN - Similar to the Oboe, but with a deeper sound. Like
the Oboe is very difficult to play, instead of his needs of breath and
mouthpiece.

- CLARINET - Wind instrument with simple reed, played blowing into

the mouthpiece. The clarinet is played closing and opening the holes
in the body of the instrument, changing the length of the air column.
At the end, the bell give resonance to the sounds.

- BASSOON - - Wind instrument with double reed, that in this family

has the deeper sound. The name descend from the original form. Is
the longest instrument of this family.

2) BRASS CATEGORY
Belongs to this category:
- HORN - Mouthpiece Musical instrument, like all the Brass family. Is
made up of metal, is a spiral pipe 3,894 meters (3 comma
eighthundredninetyfour) long, that end with a very flared bell. The
sound is produced by vibration of the lips rested on the mouthpiece.

- TRUMPET - Is the sharpest instrument of this family. His sound is

bright and strong, because of that is used by armies all over the
world in order to give military signals. The sounds are obtained
pushing the three pistons valve that change the length of the tube
and the sounds.

- TROMBONE - In the “Coulisse” version has an extendible pump that

change the air’s way and the tune. There is also a pistons valve
version that is used by the band.

- TUBA - Also named “Grave Flugelhorn” and “Doublebass

Flugelhorn” are the deepest sound instruments. The are often used
to give depth in the Band and in some Jazzgroup.

3) STRINGS CATEGORY

- VIOLIN - This instrument has four strings tuned into intervals of

fifth. It can be played with the bow, stroking the strings or doing
“pizzicato” , plucking them. Is the smallest instrument of the string’s
family and has the sharpest sound.

- VIOLA - Similar to the Violin, but bigger than it. The Viola has a
deeper and less bright timber.

- CELLO - This instrument is recognised as the more similar to the

human voice. It is played holding between the legs, rested on a tip,
and moving the bow horizontally.

- DOUBLE BASS - This instrument has the deepest sound of the

string’s family. Is big and the player has to stand up rested on a
stool. In orchestra is played with the bow, in a Jazz Band is played
plucking the strings.

4) PERCUSSIONS

- TIMPANI (Metal Drum)- Tuned Instruments. Made of stretched

membrane over a copper drum. They are often played with wood
drum sticks. There are three or four in an Orchestra, or more.

- XYLOPHONE - Made of two lines of little wood planks. The first one
is for the natural notes, the second for the altered notes (sharp or
flat). Under the plans are situated opened tubes that give
resonance. This instrument is played with wood drum sticks and his
sound is dry and penetrating.

- BASS DRUM - SNARE - CYMBALS - Group of percussions of

undetermined sound (no tuned notes).
The Bass Drum is formed by a drum with membranes at the two
sides, and it is played with a felt knocker.
The Snare is like the Bass Drum but smaller. At the bottom of the
lower membrane there is a metal tailpiece that gives brightness at
the sound . It is played with a pair of drum sticks.
The Cymbals are beated against each other, and their sound is
metallic and give stateliness.

- HARP - Is a plucking strings instrument. There are many types, but

we refer to the Harp Concert that has 47 (forty-seven) strings,
situated between the sound box and the shelf called “modiglione”. It
has a 6 (six) and half octaves range.

- SAXOPHONE - Is an aerophone instrument with simple reed. There

are Seven types of Saxophones: Soprano - Soprano - Contralto -
Tenore - Baritono - Basso e Contrabbasso. In the Orchestra the most
used one is the Contralto Sax.

- PIANOFORTE - (GRANDPIANO) - Is a Stroke Strings Instrument, by

hammers moved through a keyboard. The name is given in order to
the possibility of the instrument to play notes with different
volumes, it depends on the way of touch.

- CLASSIC GUITAR - Is a type of guitar used to play classic or

popular music, that has nylon strings. For other sort of music it
needs metal strings, so in the Electric guitar. Classic music is
played mainly finger picking.

- PIPE ORGAN - Is the most impressive Instrument. The largest Pipe

organ in the world is in Atlantic City (USA). It has 33112 (Thirty-three
thousand one hundred and twelve) Pipes and 7 (seven) Keyboards. In
Italy the largest are in Milan at the Duomo and in Messina, with
16.000 (sixteenthousand) Pipes. The Pipes works like the flutes, the
air is pushed inside the bellows and sent to the pipes throughout the
keyboard. It Is mostly a Liturgical Instrument .