| There are many different instruments in an orchestra. Each instrument has its own unique characteristics. All the instruments can be placed into four general groups. They are the strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion. |  |
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String instrument players sit in the front of the orchestra. Their instruments are played by plucking or dragging something across the strings. The thing that is dragged is called a bow. The bow is normally made of horse hair or synthetic fibers. Violins, violas, cellos, and basses are string instruments that use bows. Harps and guitars are plucked. Guitars are not normally used in orchestras. |
| The woodwinds sit behind the strings. They are called woodwinds because the instruments were originally made from wood. Now they are made from metal. There are two ways to play woodwind instruments. The first way is to blow into a hole or a groove in the instrument. Flutes, piccolos, and recorders are played like this. The second way to play them is to blow on reeds attached to the instrument. Some instruments use one reed; other instruments use two reeds bound together. Clarinets and saxophones use one reed. Oboes and bassoons use two reeds. |
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The brass players sit behind the woodwinds. Their instruments are played by creating different vibrations with the lips. The trombone creates pitches by sliding a tube back and forth. The trumpet, French horn, and tuba are played by pressing on different valves. |
| The percussion instruments are in the very back of the orchestra. They are played by hitting the instruments. Even though the piano has many strings inside it, the piano is considered a percussion instrument because the keys are hitting the strings. Drums, cymbals, woodblocks, xylophones, and bells are percussion instruments as well. Percussion players must learn to play many different percussion instruments. Otherwise, they would never get a job because the orchestras would not have enough money to pay for all the percussion players they would need. |
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