how many instruments are in the woodwind family

Which instruments are members of the woodwind family?

There are many instruments in the woodwinds family. The common orchestral include the flute, the clarinet, the oboe, the bassoon, and the saxophone.

What are some uncommon woodwind instruments?

Woodwinds are classified by how the sound is created, through moving air through the instrument. Some of the more uncommon woodwind instruments inc...

What type of woodwind is a flute?

A flute is a type of woodwind that creates sound by air moving across a hole towards the end of the instrument, known as the mouthpiece. Flutes can...

Auxiliary woodwind instruments

An auxiliary instrument is a lesser-known or less common member of an instrumental family. They are usually seen in orchestras and are often played by specialist musicians.

Woodwinds in the Orchestra

The woodwind section of a traditional orchestra is made up of pairs of flutes, oboes, clarinets and bassoons. You will often see a scattering of auxiliary instruments as well, especially the piccolo and cor anglais.

Woodwinds in other music

Woodwind instruments are all very versatile and can be found in lots of ensembles. These include recorder consorts, wind quintets, marching bands, drum-corps and concert bands.

What Instruments are in the Woodwind Family?

The woodwind family of instruments are classified by their mouthpiece and the way sound is created when the instruments are played. Air vibrates reeds (single or double) in the mouthpiece or is blown across a hole in the mouthpiece.

Flutes in the Woodwind Family

The oldest woodwind instrument is the flute. Flutes are typically made of metal (silver, gold, or platinum), and the mouthpiece consists of an opening on the side near the top of the instrument. The musician holds the flute on its side, and air is blown across the hole to create sound.

Clarinet in the Woodwind Family

The clarinet is one of the most common woodwind instruments. Clarinets are often made of wood but can also be made of plastic. They have an intricate system of metal keys that are used to cover holes to create pitch. Clarinets are played by blowing air over a thin piece of wood on the mouthpiece called a reed.

Saxophone in the Woodwind Family

The saxophone is a woodwind instrument that is made of metal. It is similar to the clarinet in that it is also a single reed instrument that is held and played upright. It is most often used in jazz and blues music but has found a place in orchestras, as well.

Oboe in the Woodwind Family

The oboe looks very similar to and is often mistaken for clarinets. The key difference is in the reed. Oboes are double-reed instruments, meaning there are two reeds in the mouthpiece rather than one. The oboe has a similar musical range as the clarinet, but its sound is very smooth and somewhat haunting.

Bassoon in the Woodwind Family

The final instrument in the orchestral woodwind family is the bassoon. Like other woodwinds, bassoons are cylindrical wood instruments that are played by blowing air through a reed on the mouthpiece. Similar to the oboe, bassoons are also double-reed instruments.

What is the woodwind section of a concert band?

The concert band 's woodwind section is typically much larger and more diverse than the orchestra's. The concert band's woodwind section typically includes piccolos, flutes, oboes, B ♭ clarinets, bass clarinets, bassoons, alto saxophones, tenor saxophones, and baritone saxophones. The alto flute, cor anglais, E ♭ clarinet, alto clarinet, contra-alto clarinet, contrabass clarinet, contrabassoon, and soprano saxophone are also used, but not as frequently as the other woodwinds.

What are the two types of wind instruments?

Woodwind instruments are a family of musical instruments within the more general category of wind instruments. Common examples include flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and saxophone. There are two main types of woodwind instruments: flutes and reed instruments ...

How do single reed woodwinds make sound?

Single-reed woodwinds produce sound by fixing a reed onto the opening of a mouthpiece ( using a ligature ). When air is forced between the reed and the mouthpiece, the reed causes the air column in the instrument to vibrate and produce its unique sound. Single reed instruments include the clarinet, saxophone, and others such as the chalumeau.

How do woodwinds make sound?

All woodwinds produce sound by splitting the air blown into them on a sharp edge, such as a reed or a fipple. Despite the name, a woodwind may be made of any material, not just wood. Common examples include brass, silver, cane, as well as other metals such as gold and platinum.

How do flutes make sound?

Flutes produce sound by directing a focused stream of air below the edge of a hole in a cylindrical tube. The flute family can be divided into two sub-families: open flutes and closed flutes.

What are flutes made of?

Later, flutes were made of metals such as tin, copper, or bronze. Modern concert flutes are usually made of high-grade metal alloys, usually containing nickel, silver, copper, or gold. To produce a sound with a closed flute, the player is required to blow air into a duct.

What are the instruments used in a concert band?

The piccolo, cor anglais, bass clarinet, E-flat clarinet, and contrabassoon are commonly used supplementary woodwind instruments. The section may also on occasion be expanded by the addition of saxophone (s). The concert band 's woodwind section is typically much larger and more diverse than the orchestra's.

What was the first woodwind instrument made of?

While different materials can be used to make modern woodwind instruments today, many of the earliest woodwind instruments were originally made out of wood. Let's check out the most well-known members of the woodwind family!

Which instrument plays the lowest notes in the woodwind section of an orchestra?

The bassoon often plays the lowest notes in the woodwind section of an orchestra, but can also play melodies that have a middle range. The bassoon can be heard during the introduction of 'The Tears of a Clown' by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. The clarinet is another member of the woodwind family.

What is a double reed bassoon?

Another member of the woodwind family that uses a double reed is the bassoon. Like the oboe, the modern bassoon can be made from wood or plastic. However, it is much larger than the oboe, so it is able to play much lower.

How is the sound of an oboe made?

It is usually made from wood but can also be made from plastic. Sound is created in the oboe by blowing air into a double reed at the top of the instrument. This double-reed is made up of two very thin pieces of wood that are tied together and vibrate when air passes through them.

What is the sound of a clarinet?

It is usually made out of wood or sometimes plastic. Sound is created by blowing air past a single reed that is attached to a mouthpiece at the top of the clarinet.

How do woodwinds work?

Woodwind instruments work by blowing air, or wind, into the instrument, which causes the air in the instrument to vibrate. This vibration is what causes the instrument to produce a sound. In woodwind instruments, this vibration is made by either causing a thin piece of wood called a reed to vibrate, or by blowing across an opening in the instrument.

What is the flute used for?

The Flute. The flute is used in orchestras and bands, but can also be used as a solo instrument in many different kinds of music. The flute is a member of the woodwind family because the sound is created by blowing across a hole near the top of the flute, causing the air inside to vibrate. The modern flute that is used most often in classical music ...

What is a woodwind instrument?

The woodwind family of instruments is a subset of the more general category of wind instruments. Within the woodwind family, there are two main types of instruments: reed instruments and flutes. The reason reed woodwind instruments are identified as “woodwind” is based on the way they produce their sound which is by splitting the player’s air stream on a sharp edge, such as a reed. Many people are confused by the name woodwind, thinking that these instruments should be made exclusively from wood. However, they can be made of any material such as wood, brass, cane, silver, gold or platinum.

What type of music is woodwind?

You can hear woodwind instruments featured in all types of music, from classical and orchestral pieces to jazz to blues to rock & roll and nearly everything in between.

What is the sound of the oboe?

The tones produced by the oboe are just below those of the flute. They produce a wide range of pitches, from haunting sound s to warm, velvety smooth notes, which make the sound of the oboe memorable. The instrument is an important member of orchestral woodwind sections and is often featured in solos.

Why are reed woodwind instruments called woodwind?

The reason reed woodwind instruments are identified as “woodwind” is based on the way they produce their sound which is by splitting the player’s air stream on a sharp edge, such as a reed. Many people are confused by the name woodwind, thinking that these instruments should be made exclusively from wood.

What are double reed instruments?

Double-reed Instruments. Double-reed instruments include oboes, bassoons and English horns. Double-reed instruments use two precisely cut, small pieces of cane bound together at the base. The finished, bound reed is inserted into the instrument and vibrates as air is forced between the two pieces ...

What is a single reed clarinet?

Single-reed Instruments. Clarinets are known as single-reed instruments, because they use one reed, attached to the horn by a ligature, to produce sound. Clarinets come in a number of different sizes, and the standard Bb clarinet is just over 2 feet long.

How do you play a flute?

Flutes are played by holding the instrument sideways with both hands and blowing across a hole in the mouthpiece, much like blowing across the top of a bottle. The player’s fingers open and close the keys, which changes the pitch. Flutes generally play melodic parts of a composition. Learn more about buying a flute.

What are woodwind instruments made of?

Woodwind instruments are produced of wood and clay, but today most woodwind instruments are made of plastic, metal, or a combination of both. To playing woodwind instruments, it is necessary to open and close the holes along the pipe. So you can play the instrument when you blow from the other part of the instrument. Most of the time, the body of woodwind instruments is a thin piece of wood. Each instrument has its unique design and sound characteristics. Some are very clear, and some have high-pitched voices.

Why are woodwind instruments called woodwind instruments?

Woodwind instruments are described wind instruments in more general terms. These instruments are called woodwind instruments because they are made of carved wood, and they pass a wind current through them to produce a sound. Woodwind instruments are so popular today. Woodwind instruments are extensively used in different genres such as traditional folk, classical and contemporary. Woodwind family is quite large. When wind instruments are named, ney, zurna, mey, clarinet, flute, dozaleh, and kaval come to mind. Each instrument has a size, design, and weight.

How do wind instruments make sound?

Woodwind instruments make sound thanks to the vibration of the air inside. Woodwind instruments were made of wood in ancient times. There are also made of brass, silver, nickel, and gold. The sound output of each musical instrument is different. The flute is the most influential wind instrument in the world. It has a specific size compared to other musical instruments. However, Ney is a new wind instrument. In addition, the treble (thin) or bass (thick) sound produced in wind instruments is directly proportional to the length of the pipe. The shorter the pipe, the higher the sound, and the longer the pipe, the thicker the sound. Obtaining sound from an object means creating a vibration in that object. These vibrations are the sound itself. Wind instruments consist of a hollow and cylindrical body.

Do you need a reed for a flute?

Woodwind instruments such as the saxophone and clarinet need a reed, and they sound impressive. There is no need for a reed mouthpiece in the flute, which is in the woodwind family. On the other hand, clarinets make a soft sound due to their long plain shape and smooth plastic lining. Another woodwind instrument is the saxophone. Brass is used for making saxophones. Thus, saxophones have a brighter sound.

Overview

Reed instruments

Flutes

Modern orchestra and concert band woodwinds

See also

External links