THE

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
WHAT IS A MUSICAL
INSTRUMENT?
• A musical instrument is an object created or adapted to
make musical sounds. In principle, any object that
produces sound can be considered a musical
instrument.
HOW DO WE CLASSIFY THE
DIFFERENT MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS?
• IN FAMILIES / GROUPS
 THERE ARE 4 DIFFERENT FAMILIES/GROUPS

Percussion Wind String Electrophones

 Wind instruments
 The instrument itself does not vibrate, and there are no vibrating strings or membranes.
 Instruments produce sound by vibrating a column of air.
Depending on how they vibrate the air column we have:
•THESE INSTRUMENTS WERE ORIGINALLY MADE ONLY OF WOOD BUT NOW OTHER
MATERIALS ARE USED. THEY CREATE SOUNDS WHEN AIR IS BLOWN AGAINST A REED OR
ACROSS AN EDGE. THE AIR CAUSES THE REED TO VIBRATE OR GETS SPLIT BY THE EDGE
HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/S6G
•THESE INSTRUMENTS CREATE SOUND THROUGH THE VIBRATION OF A PLAYER'S LIPS ON
THE MOUTHPIECE. THE AIR THAT PASSES THROUGH THE PLAYER'S LIPS GOES TO THE AIR
COLUMN OF THE INSTRUMENT AND THUS CREATES SOUND. https://youtu.be/MgzBb3OhFkw?t=18
https://youtu.be/MgzBb3OhFkw?t=18
• Primarily produce their sounds
by means of the vibration of a
string or strings that are stretched
between fixed points. This group
includes as well keyboard
instruments, such
as pianos and harpsichords.
 We differentiate HOW the strings are
played
– Plucked

– Struck/Hammered (slap bass)

– Bowed

https://www.
youtube.com https://youtu.be/0bXy_7bj1v8?t=30
 ELECTROPHONES
• This is the newest category of instruments. They have only been around since the 20th century.
• The two main families of electrophones are electronic instruments and amplified acoustical instruments.

• What are some Electrophones that you have heard?

https://youtu.be/K6KbEnGnymk?t=15
Membraphones
Membranophones produce sound when a stretched skin (membrane) vibrates

Pitched Unpitched

https://youtu.be/pQgO7I_S9Lg?t=50 timpani
 Idiophones
Idiophones produce a sound by the vibration of the actual instrument itself. •These
instruments can be struck, rubbed, shaken…

Pitched Unpitched
 Instruments

Wind String Percussion Electrophones

Brass
Plucked Membraphones Idiophones

Woodwind
Struck/Hammered Pitched Pitched

Bowed Not Pitched Not Pitched