Musical Instruments

Identify and classify instruments by family

Families of Instruments

Musical instruments are grouped into families based on how they make sound. String instruments vibrate strings (guitar, violin). Wind instruments use air (flute, trumpet). Percussion instruments are hit or shaken (drum, marimba). Each family has a unique sound.

Example

Instrument Families

Strings: guitar, violin, cello, piano (has strings inside) Woodwind: flute, recorder, clarinet, saxophone Brass: trumpet, trombone, tuba Percussion: drum, marimba, xylophone, shakers, triangle SA instruments: djembe drum, uhadi bow, vuvuzela, marimba, pennywhistle (tin flute)

Note

Remember

Sound is made by vibrations. String instruments vibrate strings. Wind instruments vibrate air inside a tube. Percussion instruments vibrate when struck. The human voice is also an instrument! South African music often features drums, voices and marimbas.

Key Vocabulary

InstrumentAn object made to produce musical sounds

PercussionInstruments played by hitting, shaking or scraping

String instrumentAn instrument that makes sound by vibrating strings

Wind instrumentAn instrument played by blowing air through it

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