The Woodwind Family

The woodwind
section of the
world-famous
Philharmonia
Orchestra.

The Flute
Flute

Although it is now commonly

made of metal (nickel), the
flute was originally made out
of wood, with metal keys.
Some modern flutes are still
made of wood.
Piccolo

The piccolo is like a miniature

flute. It is the smallest and
highest pitched instrument in
the woodwind family.

The Oboe
Cor Anglais
Reed

Oboe

The Oboe is directly

descended from the
Shawm which originated in
the Middle East in ancient
times. Today, it is usually
made of Ebony and has
silver or silver-plated keys.

The Cor Anglais is

slightly larger than an
Oboe and has an
onion shaped bell. It is
lower in pitch than the
Oboe.

(English Horn)

The Clarinet

The Clarinet was invented in the midlate eighteenth century. It is

traditionally made of Ebony with silver
or silver-plated keys.

Reed

Clarinet

Mouthpiece

Unlike the Oboe (or Bassoon), the Clarinet uses a SINGLE

reed, which is attached to the mouthpiece with a LIGATURE.

 The Clarinet also

has a number of
woodwind
relatives, the
most common of
which is the Bass
Clarinet. It is
bigger, heavier and
lower-pitched than
the Clarinet.

The Saxophone
There are four
types of
saxophone. From
highest pitched to
lowest, they are
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass
This picture is of an
Alto Saxophone.

Although not
made of wood, the
Saxophone IS a
woodwind
instrument. Like
the Clarinet, it
uses a single reed
fixed to the
mouthpiece with a
ligature.

The Bassoon
The Bassoon, like the
oboe, is played using a
double reed.

The reed is similar to the

one used by the Oboe,
but it is bigger and
fatter.

The Contra-Bassoon
The Bassoons big
brother, the
Contra (or Double)
Bassoon is the
lowest pitched
woodwind
instrument.