by Susan Klatz Beal

Created on: August 14, 2011   Last Updated: August 16, 2011

A symphony orchestra has groupings of instruments that belong to the same family. When thinking of the ways by which musical instruments are classified, this is arguably the simplest way to classify them. Other ways of classifying instruments might relate to the clef that the music for a given instrument is written in. Another way of classifying instruments may be according to the key that the music for the instrument is written in. In order for certain brass instruments to play orchestral music, their scores must be written in different keys. 

String Instruments -

When talking about string instruments, the first instrument that comes to mind is likely the violin. Although the violin is a string instrument, there are many others that belong in this group as well. The viola, cello, string bass, guitar, lute, banjo, ukulele, therbo (which is essentially a bass lute,) and even the harp are all considered string instrument. 

Brass Instruments 

Brass instruments include things like the trumpet, the trombone, the tuba, euphonium, and French horn. The most distinguishing feature that differentiates brass instruments from woodwind instruments is the fact that brass instruments don’t use reeds. Musicians use an embouchure (the way they use facial muscles to control their lips when playing brass instruments,) to create the sound, whereas wind instruments have a reed. 

Woodwind instruments 

Woodwind instruments are characterized by the sound they make and the way they are made. One exception is the flute which is constructed entirely out of metal and doesn’t require a reed. As is the case with brass instruments, flutists or flautists, as they are called, use an embouchure to control the sound and the notes they play. Recorder, a predecessor to the flute is also considered a woodwind instrument.

Other woodwind instruments include clarinet, bass clarinet E flat clarinet, bassoon, contra bassoon, English horn, soprano, alto, tenor and bass saxophone and piccolo. These instruments are very difficult to play and  require a tremendous amount of breath control and mouth strength in order to create beautiful sounds. 

Percussion Instruments 

Percussion instruments include the obvious timpani, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, triangle, tambourine, vibraphone, marimba, xylophone, wooden blocks and miscellaneous instruments that percussionists are required to learn. While percussionists may not read music in the same way that others whose instruments play specific notes, they do have to have an incredible sense of rhythm and the ability to sit and count through blank measures until they encounter the part where they are to pay. 

We shouldn't forget keyboard instruments. The piano and harpsichord both have strings. On the piano, the strings are hit with hammers whereas on the harpsichord, the strings are plucked. Pipe organs have multiple keyboards that span five octaves with 61 notes and a pedal board that consists of 2 1/2 octaves or 32 notes. Instruments such as the recorder that has no reeds, is essentially the predecessor of the modern flute, and would therefore be considered a woodwind instrument. Crossover musical genres have brought mainstream orchestral instruments into the world of popular music, and this may be the most effective way to introduce the mainstream public to the world of orchestral instruments and classical music. 

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