Instrument FamiliesInstrument Families

String Family

• The Violin– Highest sounding from all of the string instruments– Has the strings E, A, D, G– Is played by plucking the string with the finger, or

using a bow across the strings– The violin reads treble clef

• The Viola– Bigger in size than the violin– Has a lower string, C– Unlike the violin, it does not have an E string– Viola reads alto clef

• The Cello– Strings are tuned just like the viola, but one octave

lower– Has an end-pin on which it stands on the floor– Deeper sounding than the violin and viola– Reads bass clef

• The Bass– Lowest sounding of all the string instruments– Tuned like the violin, but the sound of the strings

are opposite (E is the lowest string, G is the highest string)

– Performers stand up or sit on a stool– Like the cello, the bass reads bass clef

Woodwind Family

• The Flute– A reed-less wind instrument– Sound is produced by the flow of air across the

embouchure – It is held to the performers right, parallel with the

ground

• The Clarinet– Comes in a dozen sizes– Is a single reed instrument– The most common is the B-flat soprano clarinet

• The Saxophone– A single reed instrument– Invented by Adolphe Sax in 1841– The E-flat soprano sax and the B-flat tenor sax are

the most common ones– Particularly associated with jazz music

• The Oboe– A double reed instrument– A large range of timbre and dynamics can be

produced– The oboe tunes the orchestra, giving the musicians

the reference pitch of concert A

• The Bassoon– A double reed instrument– Generally plays in the bass and tenor registers– Has a warm and dark sound