Musical Instrument

Musical Instrument

Any instrument which can create music is a musical instrument.

They are different types like brass, woodwinds, strings, keyboard, electronic.

Brass

• Played by buzzing lips in mouthpiece

• Include trumpet, (French) horn, trombone, euphonium (baritone horn), tuba.

Woodwinds

• Usually played with a reed

• Pitches changed by opening or closing keys to set up different pitches

• Includes flute, clarinets, saxophones, oboe, bassoon

Strings

• Instrument where the sound is produced by vibrating strings

• Strings can be plucked or bowed

• Some string instrument can be electrified like electric guitar

Violin family

• Includes violin, viola, cello, and double bass or just bass

• These instrument are played usually by bowing, can also be plucked

• This family forms the “core” of the symphony orchestra

Guitar family

• Include electric and acoustic guitar, electric bass , mandolins, lutes, etc

• Electric guitars use special microphones called “ pickups ”

• Guitars usually have 6 strings, bass have 4 that sound down 1 octave from the bottom 4 strings of the guitar

• Effects (usually trigged by a pedal) are also sometimes used

Harps

• Many strings played by plucking

• Used in folk music tradition as well as the symphony orchestra

Keyboard instruments

• Include piano, organ, harpsichord, and synthesizer