Every single musical instrument in the world is grouped into a category known as a ‘family’, based on the kind of instrument it is and how its sound is produced.
All instruments have their own unique sound and are different from each other, but the science behind them allows them to be divided into different categories. In an orchestra, all the musicians sit together according to the family of the instrument they are playing. Here are the 5 main instrument families:
Brass
The instruments in the brass family are made of brass or another kind of metal, and their sound is produced when air is blown inside them. The musician’s lips must buzz when they play, and the air then vibrates inside the instrument to give an original sound.
The brass family includes the trumpet, trombone, tuba, didgeridoo, French horn, cornet, and bugle.
Percussion
The percussion family has very distinct sounds which are made from hitting, shaking, rubbing, scratching, or any other motion that will cause a vibration on the instrument, thus producing their unique sound.
The percussion family includes the drums, cymbals, xylophone, chimes, glockenspiel, bells, and maracas.
Strings
The sounds that string instruments make come from having their nylon, gut or wire strings plucked, bowed, or struck which causes the vibration that produces their original sound. There are different types of string instruments; lutes, which support the strings with a neck and a bout; harps, which contain the strings within a frame; and zithers, which have the strings mounted on the body. The amount of strings can range between 4 and 47 depending on the instrument.
The string family includes the guitar, bass, violin, cello, harp, sitar and mandolin.
Woodwinds
Similar to the brass instruments, woodwind instruments produce their sound when air (wind) is blown through them, but the sound produced is immensely different. Air can be blown across an edge, between a reed and a surface, or between two reeds, and the sound is made when the air vibrates inside.
The woodwind family includes the flute, clarinet, bassoon, oboe, and even the saxophone (although made of brass).
Keyboards
This family was created for the instruments which can be considered “hybrid” instruments. They all have strings (indeed more than any instrument within the string family) and they all have hammers that hit the strings to produce the sound, but they do not simply fall into the string or percussion family. Keyboard instruments have keys which, when pressed, force a small hammer to press against the strings in a seesaw-like manner, thus producing the sound.
The keyboard family includes the piano, clavichord, harpsichord, and organ.
A number of these instruments also have an electric match, such as the electric guitar, synthesiser, electric violin, electric drums, and even the electric clarinet, among others.
If you’re interested in learning a musical instrument, why not take music lessons at the School of Popular Music in Guernsey. We offer classes and individual tutoring to people of all ages. Click here to contact us today.