Musical instruments and their families

In short: Instruments are classified by how the sound is produced: string instruments, wind instruments, percussion, keyboard instruments and electronic instruments.

In more detail: The orchestra arranges them in groups: strings, woodwind, brass and percussion. The classical orchestra often has over 80 musicians.

In detail

• Bowed strings: Violin, viola, cello, double bass, played with a bow.
• Plucked instruments: Guitar, harp, lute (gitarre-lernen-fuer-anfaenger).
• Woodwind: Flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon; the sound arises from air at an edge or from reeds.
• Brass: Trumpet, trombone, horn, tuba; the lips vibrate in the mouthpiece.
• Percussion: Drums, timpani, xylophone, cymbals; rhythm and colour.
• Keyboard instruments: Piano, organ, accordion (klavier-und-keyboard-lernen).
• Electronic: Synthesizer, sampler, electric guitar; sound is produced or altered electrically (obertoene-und-klangfarbe).