Instruments and their Families

The four main instrument families are:

​ (a)   ​ (b)   ​ (c)   ​ (d)   ​

• Woodwind

  Brass

  Percussion

  Strings

• Guitars

  Flutes

  Horns

  Drums

• Woodwinds

  Strings

  Drums

  Horns

• Brass

  Guitars

  Percussion

  Woodwinds

• Woodwinds

  Brass

  Drums

  Guitars

Which family of instruments is best described by these attributes?

Pipes made of wood (sometimes plastic or metal) with holes

Use air blown into mouthpiece with reed or across mouth hole

Use keys/cover holes to change notes

• Percussion

• Woodwind

• Brass

• Strings

• Flutes

Which family of instruments is best described by these attributes?

Long, metal pipes, bent and twisted into different shapes with bell shape at end

Use air blown into instrument while buzzing lips to make sound

Use valves or slides to change notes

• Percussion

• Woodwind

• Brass

• Strings

• Horns

Which family of instruments is best described by these attributes?

May be pitched or unpitched

Sound is made by tapping, shaking, or scraping instrument

Mostly made of wood, metal, or membranes

• Percussion

• Woodwind

• Brass

• Strings

• Drums

Which family of instruments is best described by these attributes?

Resonator made of wood with neck and strings

Bow or pluck strings to make a sound

Press strings to change notes

• Percussion

• Woodwind

• Brass

• Strings

• Guitars

Place the woodwind family instruments in pitch order, highest to lowest.​ ​ (a)   ​ ​ ​ (b)   ​​ (c)   ​ ​ ​ (d)   ​ (e)  

• Flute
• Oboe
• Clarinet
• Saxophone
• Bassoon
• Woodblock
• Violin
• Baritone/Euphonium
• Xylophone
• Trombone

Place the brass family instruments in pitch order, highest to lowest. (a)   ​ (b)   ​ (c)   ​ ​ ​ ​ (d)   ​ (e)  

• Trumpet
• French Horn
• Trombone
• Baritone/Euphonium
• Tuba
• Flute
• Saxophone
• Viola
• Clarinet
• Chimes

Which of the following lists only instruments of the percussion family?​ ​ ​

• Xylophone

  Saxophone

  Trombone

  Baritone/

  Euphonium

  Tambourine

• Violin

  Tuba

  Clarinet

  Bassoon

  Cello

  Trombone

• Maracas

  Xylophone

  Square

  Flute

  Trombone

  Baritone/

  Euphonium

• Gong

  Snare Drum

  Saxophone

  Tambourine

  Bass Drum

  Oboe

• Xylophone

  Timpani

  Maracas

  Chimes

  Cymbals

  Triangle

Place the string family instruments in pitch order, highest to lowest. ​ ​ ​

​ (a)   ​ ​ (b)   ​ (c)   ​ (d)  

• Violin
• Viola
• Cello
• Double Bass
• Clarinet
• Tuba
• Bassoon
• Triangle
• Oboe
• Chimes

What instrument do you see?

(a)  

• Flute
• Trumpet
• Clarinet
• Oboe
• Saxophone
• French Horn
• Baritone/Euphonium