The String Family |
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iolin |
The violin is the smallest instrument in the string family, and has the highest pitched sound. The violin is held between the musician’s shoulder and chin, with the left hand fingers pressing down on the strings while the right hand moves the bow. There are many more violins than any other instrument in an orchestra. The violins make the core sound of an orchestra and carry the melody most of the time. The violins are divided into two sections; the first and the second violins. |
Viola |
The viola is slightly larger than the violin, and has a lower sound. While the violin is the soprano member of this family, the viola is the alto. Just like all the other members of the string family, the viola is made out of many pieces of wood carefully shaped and glued together. Like the violin, the viola is played by holding it under the musician’s chin. |
Cello |
The cello is much larger than the violin or viola. To play the cello, the musician sits while holding the instrument upright and supports it between his/her knees as it rests on the floor. The cello plays an octave lower than the viola, and is at once the tenor and bass of the string family. It’s function is to accompany the melody line. Yo-Yo Ma is a very famous cello player. |
Double Bass |
The double bass is the largest member of the string family, and is about six feet tall. The musician must stand or sit on a stool to play the double bass. The double bass plays the lowest notes of the string family, one full octave below the cello. The primary role of the double bass is to double the bass line, hence its name. |
The Woodwind Family
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The flute is held sideways while the musician blows across a hole near one end. The piccolo is similar to the flute, but is smaller and plays an octave higher. Modern flutes are generally made of precious metals, while piccolos are often still made of wood. |
Flute & Piccolo |
The oboe is played using a “double reed”, two thin pieces of cane that meet to form the top of the tube and vibrate the air to produce the sound. The oboe is used to tune the orchestra—watch for the concertmaster directing the oboe to play an ‘A’ before the concert starts. The English Horn is a larger, lower pitched member of the oboe family. |
Oboe |
The clarinet has a single reed that is attached to a mouthpiece. It looks very similar to the oboe, but is slightly larger and produces a somewhat lower, mellower sound. The bass clarinet is larger than the clarinet and plays one octave lower. Modern clarinets and oboes are made of African black wood. |
Clarinet |
The bassoon is the largest and the lowest sounding member of the woodwinds. It uses a double reed similar to that of the oboe. The bassoon is made with a bend in it, so that it doubles back on itself. This allows the instrument to have a lower sound. If it were stretched out it would be over two meters long! They are usually made of curly maple wood. The contrabassoon (also called the double bassoon), the cousin of the bassoon, can produce the lowest sound of any instrument in the orchestra. |
Bassoon |
The Brass Family
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Trumpet |
The trumpet has a bright sound. Throughout recent history, armies often used trumpets for signaling. In the old days, trumpets did not have valves, and any change in pitch was made by changing the tension in the lips. |
French Horn |
The French horn is coiled many times, and if straightened out it would be more than four meters long. It was originally used in Renaissance Europe as a hunting horn. |
Trombone |
Trombone is Italian for "big trumpet", but unlike the trumpet it has no valves. Instead, it is played by sliding the tubing back and forth to change the pitch, using seven positions to produce many different notes. There are three sizes of trombones. The usual one is known as the tenor trombone. The alto trombone is about 2/3 the size of the tenor trombone. The bass trombone is the same length as the tenor trombone but has a larger bell and two trigger valves. |
Tuba |
The tuba is the largest member of the brass family, and has the lowest sound. Invented around 1850, the tuba is also the newest member of the brass family. It takes more air to play the tuba than any other wind instrument. |
The Percussion Family
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