ARTS & HUMANITIES

Musical
Instrument
Families
 Timbre

Timbre (a.k.a. tone color)

is the special sound that
makes one instrument or
voice different from
another.
 VOICE PARTS

Soprano Highest female vocal range

Alto Lowest female vocal range

Tenor Highest male vocal range

Bass Lowest male vocal range
 STRINGS
Instruments that make sounds by
vibrating the string in one of the following
ways:

1) Drawing a bow across them

2) Plucking them
3) Striking them
 STRINGS
Guitar
Harp
Violin family
 WOODWINDS
Instruments originally made from wood
that are now often made of metal or plastic.
They set a column of air into vibration by
wind moving:
1) Across a mouthpiece
2) Into a whistle-like mouthpiece
3) Over 1 reed
4) Over 2 reeds
WOODWINDS
Flute
Recorder
Clarinet
Oboe
 BRASS
Instruments usually made of brass. They
create sound from the vibration of the
performer’s lips buzzing into a cuplike
mouthpiece. They have 2 ends.

1) Mouthpiece end

2) Bell shaped end (to amplify sound)

 BRASS

Trumpet
Trombone
French Horn
Tuba
 PERCUSSION
These are the most ancient
instruments. They are used
to make rhythm. There are
two groups of percussion
instruments.
 PERCUSSION
Membranophones

Also known as the drum family.

An instrument with a membrane
(drum head) stretched across a
form (drum body). The
membrane is struck by a hand or
with a stick.
PERCUSSION
Membranophones

Tambourine
Snare Drum
Bass
Bongo
 PERCUSSION
Idiophones
Make sounds by striking
rubbing, shaking, or
rattling the materials they
are made of.
PERCUSSION
Idiophones
Xylophone
Chimes
Triangle
Cymbals