Musical Instruments

Instrument Any mechanism-other than the voice that produces musical sounds WESTERN INSTRUMENTS String Woodwind Brass Percussion Keyboard Electronic

Register The total range in which an instrument is played

String Instruments The violin, viola, cello, harp, and double bass (bass) make up an orchestra’s string section. Violin- smallest and highest range Double bass- biggest and lowest range These instruments can be played with a bow or plucked with the finger. Bow- slightly curved stick strung tightly with horsehair

Violin Often used as a solo instrument

Viola About 2 inches longer than the violin, thus the range is somewhat lower

Cello Member of the violin family but set an octave lower. Also has an endpin to help with the weight of the instrument.

HARP An ancient plucked-string instrument with a triangular shape

Double Bass Very heavy tone and less agile than other string instruments. (Car)

Woodwind Instruments Traditionally made from wood but now usually made from metal or some other materials. Sound is generated by a vibrating air column in a tube All of these instruments have holes that are opened and closed by fingers or pads.

Woodwind cont’d… Flute and piccolo are played from blowing across the edge of the mouth hole Rest of the woodwind instruments have a reed- thin piece of cane that is on the mouthpiece that vibrates by the air. Single Reed- clarinet, saxophone Double Reed- oboe, English Horn, bassoon

Woodwind Families Flute Family Piccolo Flute Clarinet Family Clarinet Bass Clarinet Oboe Family Oboe English Horn Bassoon Family Bassoon Contrabassoon

Piccolo Half the size of the flute and plays an octave higher

Flute High range and extremely agile

Oboe

English Horn

Clarinet

Bass Clarinet

Bassoon

Contrabassoon

Saxophone

Brass Instruments Powerful instruments often used at climaxes and for heroic statements Family includes the trumpet, French Horn, trombone, and tuba. Played by blowing into a cup or funnel shaped mouthpiece Brass players can alter the tone by placing a mute into the bell of the horn (most common in Jazz)

Trumpet

French Horn

Trombone

Tuba

Percussion Instruments that are struck by hand, with sticks, or with hammers Used to emphasize rhythm and to heighten climaxes

Timpani (Kettledrums)- generally plays 2 to 4 each tuned to a different pitch

Metal Bars or Glockenspiel- played with 2 hammers

Xylophone

Celesta

Chimes

Snare Drum

Bass Drum

Tambourine- shake or strike with knuckles

Triangle

Cymbals

Gong

Keyboard Instruments The piano, harpsichord, organ, and accordion are the best known Piano has 88 keys that span more than 7 octaves Harpsichord- replaced by the piano Pipe Organ- many sets of pipes controlled from several keyboards and pedals Accordion- free steel reeds controlled by a treble keyboard

Pipe Organ

HARPSICORD

Accordion

Electronic Instruments Produce or amplify sound through electronic means Invented in 1904, but has had a serious impact from 1950 to the present Ex. electric piano, organ, guitar, tape studios, synthesizers, computers, and other technologies

Synthesizer System of electronic components that generate, modify, and control sound