Instrument Classification Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What defines the String Family?

Instruments with a membrane stretched across themselves

Instruments that create sound from air vibrating through a reed

Instruments that produce sound electronically

Any instrument with strings that is bowed, plucked, or strummed (correct)

What are Chordophones?

Instruments with strings that are bowed, plucked, or strummed.

The only woodwind that doesn't have a reed is the flute.

True

Which of the following instruments are part of the Brass Family?

Trombone Signup and view all the answers

Define Aerophones.

Any instrument that creates sound by using air. Signup and view all the answers

What best describes Percussion instruments?

Anything that is struck or hit to produce sound Signup and view all the answers

What are Idiophones?

Percussion that is struck and its body produces a sound. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following instruments is classified as a Membranophone?

Tabla Signup and view all the answers

Define Electrophones.

Any instrument that produces sound electronically. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

String Family

Comprises instruments that are bowed, plucked, or strummed.
Includes violin, viola, cello, bass, guitar, and harp.

Chordophones

Refers to instruments that produce sound through vibrating strings.
Examples include the kora (Africa), sitar (India), shamisen (Japan), and banjo (America).

Woodwind Family

Instruments generate sound by air vibrating through a reed; the flute is the exception as it does not use a reed.
Key instruments include clarinet, oboe, bassoon, English horn, bass clarinet, and piccolo.

Brass Family

Instruments create sound through air vibrating in a cup-shaped mouthpiece.
Notable instruments are trumpet, trombone, tuba, and baritone.

Aerophones

Encompasses any instrument producing sound by letting air pass through it.
Includes entire woodwind and brass families, along with harmonica (America), bagpipes (Scotland), pan flute (South America), and venu (India).

Percussion

Serves as the rhythmic foundation of orchestras; consists of objects that are struck or hit.
Non-pitched examples include bass drum, snare, woodblocks, and cymbals; pitched examples include timpani, piano, marimba, and xylophone.

Idiophones

A type of percussion that produces sound from the material itself being struck.
Examples exclude drums and include woodblock, claves, cymbals, marimba, xylophone, and piano.

Membranophones

Instruments that create sound via a membrane stretched across them.
Examples include djembe (Africa), tabla (India), timpani (Europe), congas (Latin America), bongos (Latin America), and mridangam (India).

Electrophones

Instruments that generate sound electronically.
Key examples include computer, synthesizer, vocoder, turntable, electric guitar, electric bass, and theremin.

Description

Test your knowledge on various musical instrument families with these flashcards. Learn about string family, chordophones, and woodwind instruments through definitions and examples. Perfect for music students and enthusiasts alike!