INSTRUMENTS FAMILIES

INSTRUMENT

CLASSIFICATION

We classify musical instruments according to how they produce sounds; in other words, according to the vibrating element that produces the sound.

There are 5 categories:

Chordophones

Idiophones

Electrophones

Aerophones

Membranophones

Chordophones

The sound is generated by the vibration of a string or strings, e.g. harp, violin, cello., guitar...

NeXt

We can classify according to how they produce sound.

Struck

Plucked

Bowed

The strings produce sound when we press the keys and little hammers strike them.

The strings produce sound when we rub them with a bow.

The strings produce sound when we pluck or strum them.

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Aerophones

The sound is produced by the vibration of a column of air, e.g. flute, trombone, trumpet, tuba...

There area 2 categories:

Brass

Woodwind

Trombone

Tuba

Trumpet

French horn

Bassoon

Clarinet

Oboe

Flute

Saxophone

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Brass

Woodwind

These instruments are made of brass. Brass instruments are essentially very long pipes that widen at their ends into a bell-like shape. The pipes have been curved and twisted into different shapes to make them easier to hold and play.

These instruments have a small part of wood, called reed.

The player´s lips vibrate on the cup-shaped mouthpiece.The column of air vibrates and produces sound.

The player blows into the mouthpiece. The column of air vibrates and produces sound.

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Idiophones

The body of the instrument vibrates when we hit or shake them.

Finger cymbals

Maraca

Güiro

Cowbell

Bell

Castanet

Wood block

Triangle

Claves

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We can classify according to how they produce sound.

Unpitched

Pitched

Produce sound when we hit or shake them. Remember:(These not produce music notes)

Produce different music notes when we hit their wooden or metal bars with mallets.

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Membranophones

The sound is produced by the vibration of one or several membranes (natural or synthetic), e.g. hand drum, timpani, etc.

Tambourine

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Electrophones

The sound is produced electronically or produced acoustically and then electronically ampliflied, e.g. synthesiser, electric drum, electric bass, electric guitar...