Musical instruments Musical instruments Playing an instrument When talking generally about playing musical instruments, the is usually used before the name of the instrument: » Heplayed the trumpet in a jazz band. » She decided to take up (= start learning to lay) the flute The is not usually used when two or more instruments are mentioned: > She teaches violin, cello and piano. Brass Strings chines violin viol trombone colo ute clarinet oboe bassoon recorder saxophone Percussion fines os _ a congas base drum snare drum Za bonsos kettledrum steel drum cymbals castanets maracas © eed | = 5 // ‘The preposition om is used to say who is playing. which instrument: » The CD features James Galway on the flute. » Shesang and he accompanied her on the piano. The is not usually used when you are talking about pop or jazz musicians: » John Squire on guitar > Miles Davis played trumpet. = belly la cello double bass (8rE) hare bass (NAmE) Describing ‘There are fou orchestra: percussion play separatele » a brass ban > astring g Particular adjes of musical ins instrumentit > a tenor sax GRAMMAR ‘The namesa adjectivesbe Inan orchestz=) principal, de principal ( are used witht describe a p amplierDescribing instruments ‘There are four sections of instruments in an orchestra: strings, woodwind, brass and percussion. Different bands or ensembles can be formed when instruments from the different sections play separately: > abrass band » awind band > astring quartet > ajasztrio Particular adjectives are used before the names of musical instruments to describe the type of instrument itis: » atenor saxophone > aclassical guitar » abassdrum GRAMMAR POINT ‘The names of instruments can be used like adjectives before other nouns: > aclarinet lesson > Chopin’s Piano Concerto No 1 > She's going to do her cello practice. People who play instruments ‘Some musical instruments havea specialname, ending in -ist or -er forthe people who play them: > The violinist lifted his bow. » the South African drummer, Louis Mohoto Checknear the entry for each instrument to find the correctword.Ifthereis no special word, you use player after the name of the instrument: > the quarter's viola player When talking about pop or jazz, people often use player even when there is a word for the person like saxophonist or bassist: » abrilliant young saxplayer > We're looking for a new bass player: In an orchestra playing classical music, principal, deputy principal (é), associate principal (NAmé) and assistant principal (Ame) are used with the names of instruments to describe a player's position or importance: > He became principal cellist within a few years amplitiee fret ridge electric guitar acoustic guitar banjo Apperson who directs (or conducts) an. orchestra isa conductor. The principal violinist (who leads the orchestra) the leader (Bré) or the concertmaster (NAmE) Music for instruments ‘Music is composed or written foran instrument. Ina piece of music written fora group of instruments, each has a different part to play: » Thereare parts for oboe and bassoon. Ifthere is more than one part for the same type of instrument, the terms first and second and sometimes third and fourth are used: > She's asecond violin (= plays the second violin part). > the deep low notes ofthe third horn. Asolo isa part for one instrument playing alone. Asoloist playsit: > She performs regularly as a soloist and in chamber music. » Tlove the saxophone solo in this song. > mor illus jons at ACCORDION, MUSIC and PIANO. —y harmonica wasioes tabla \ ie Pe mandolin baka tar 4 Musical instruments.