MUSICAL INSTRUMENT FAMILIES

TRADITIONAL CLASSIFICATION

It groups instruments as they are grouped in a Western Orchestra.

STRING
The sound is produced by the vibration of one or more tightened strings.

BOWED STRING

The sound is produced when the strings are rubbed with a BOW.

VIOLIN
VIOLA
VIOLONCELLO
DOUBLE BASS

PLUCKED STRING

The sound is produced when the strings are plucked with the fingers or a pick.

HARP
GUITAR

STRUCK STRING

The sound is produced when strings are hit with small hammers triggered by a keyboard.

PIANO

WIND

The sound is produced by the vibration of an air column inside the tube of the instrument.

WOODWIND

Mostly made of wood. They can have three different kinds of mouthpiece:

BRASS

These instruments are made up of metal alloys.

PERCUSSION

These instruments produce sound when hit, shaken or clattered against each other.
We didide then into TUNED OR UNTUNED PERCUSSION

TUNED PERCUSSION

They produce tuned notes and, therefore, can perform melodies
TIMPANI
MARIMBA
GLOCKENSPIEL CELESTA
TUBULAR BELLS
VIBRAPHONE
XILOPHONE

UNTUNED PERCUSSION

Tbey produce untuned sounds and, therefore, can only perform rhythms, not melodies

BASS DRUM
SNARE DRUM
CYMBALS
TRIANGLE
TAMBOURINE
MARACAS
GONG
BONGOS
CASTANETS
CLAVES