Musical Instruments Grade Nine Music

The Families… Brass Woodwind String Percussion Electric

Brass This family of instruments is part of the AEROPHONES – instruments that require the player to use AIR, sending it through tubes that are a variety of lengths and widths. To make a sound you must ‘buzz’ your lips into a cupped mouthpiece, vibrating the air and sending a sound through the instrument. Includes instruments like: Trumpet Trombone Horn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK0UFgnrIqY Tuba Euphonium Baritone

Brass Ranges… Trumpet Trombone Horn Tuba

Woodwind This group of instruments is also part of the AEROPHONES. This family includes: Flute Clarinet – single reed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nENXs6n_ITI Saxophone – single reed Oboe – double reed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNBsgfh4UMY Bassoon – double reed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kmy-hm3ai4 To make a sound the player must place the reed/mouthpiece into their mouth. The air they blow into the instrument vibrates the reed which vibrates the air sending a sound through the instrument.

Woodwind Ranges… Flute Oboe Clarinet Alto Saxophone Bassoon

String String instruments are CHORDOPHONES – instruments that make sound by vibrating a string stretched over two points. Playing this instrument requires plucking or pulling a bow across the string to make it vibrate. When the string vibrates, the air surrounding it vibrates creating the sound that we hear. Members of this family are: Violin Viola https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XierDLeUiYg Cello https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcqzPoMza7c Double Bass/String Bass Harp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2Xdb1ljd3g Acoustic guitar

String Ranges… Violin Viola Cello Bass

Percussion Percussion instruments fall into two categories – IDIOPHONES and MEMBRANOPHONES. These instruments are either shaken, scraped or hit. This family includes instruments like: Snare drum Bass drum Timpani Cymbals Tambourine Piano Vibraphone (vibes) Chimes When playing this instrument when the instrument is struck the drum head or shell of the instrument vibrates, vibrating the air which creates the sound that we hear.

Electric This family of instruments are considered ELECTROPHONES – instruments that depend on electricity to make their sound. Instruments in this family include: Electric guitar Electric bass Synthesizer