Unit 6. Timbre: Instruments

2. Instruments

2.1. Classification according to orchestra families

The traditional classification divides the instruments, according to the orchestra families, into three groups:

• String:

• Bowed string: string instruments in which the sound is produced when the strings vibrate because they are rubbed with a bow. E.g. violin, viola, violoncello and double bass.

• Plucked string: string instruments in which the sound is produced when the strings vibrate because they are plucked with the fingers or with a pick / plectrum. E.g. guitar and harp.

• Struck string: string instruments in which the sound is produced when the strings vibrate because they are hit with small hammers activated by a keyboard. E.g. piano.

• Wind:

• Woodwind: wind instruments which used to be made of wood and they produce sound by blowing into the mouthpiece. They can have three different kinds of mouthpiece:

  • Fipple: the air vibrates when it is blown against the lip of the fipple, producing the sound. E.g. recorder and flute.

  • Single reed: it is a thin and flexible cane that vibrates when it is blown. E.g. clarinet and saxophone.

  • Double reed: the sound is produced by the vibration of two reeds or canes. E.g. oboe, English horn and bassoon

• Brass: wind instruments which are usually made of metal and they produce sound by buzzing the lips against the mouthpiece. E.g. trumpet, horn, trombone and tuba.

• Percussion:

• Pitched percussion: percussion instruments in which we can play notes and melodies.
  E.g. timpani, marimba, vibraphone, tubular bells, glockenspiel, celesta, glass harmonica, etc.

• Unpitched percussion: percussion instruments in which we can't play notes and melodies.
  E.g. bass drum, snare drum, cymbals, tambourine, triangle, castanets, claves, whip, ratchet, gong, etc.