Musical Instruments Flashcards
Name the members of the strings family.
String Family:
- Violin
- Viola
- Cello
- Double Bass
- Harp
- Pedal Harp
Name the members of the Woodwind family.
Woodwind Family:
- Piccolo
- Flute
- Oboe
- Cor Anglais (English Horn)
- Clarinet
- Bassoon
Name the family members of the brass family.
Brass Family:
- Trumpet
- Horn (French Horn)
- Trombone
- Tuba
Name the members of the Definite/ Tuned/ pitched Percussion family.
Percussion Family:
- Tuned/Definite/Pitched:
- Timpani
- Glockenspiel
- Xylophone
- Marimba
- Vibraphone
- Celesta
- Tubular Bells
Name the members of the indefinite/ untuned/ unpitched Percussion family.
-
Indefinite/Untuned/Unpitched:
- Side Drum/Snare Drum
- Bass Drum
- Cymbals
- Triangle
- Tambourine
- Castanets
- Gong (Tam-Tam)
Name the bowed instruments
The bowed instruments (those played with a bow) are:
- Violin
- Viola
- Cello
- Double Bass
- Harp (while plucked, it’s often grouped with string instruments, but not typically “bowed,” though it could be considered in certain contexts if played with a bow for effects)
Why do the harp and the harp pedal belong to the string family?
The harp is a plucked string instrument, and while it’s distinct from bowed instruments like the violin or cello, it still belongs to the string family because it produces sound through the vibration of strings. Harps are typically non-transposing instruments, and their range can extend across multiple octaves.
So, to clarify:
Harp (including the large concert harp) is a member of the string family.
Explain the term non-transposing and compare it with
“Non-transposing” means that the written pitch for an instrument matches the actual pitch that sounds when the instrument is played.
What’s the difference between non-transposing instruments and transposing instruments?
In simpler terms:
Non-transposing instruments play exactly what is written on the sheet music. If a note is written as a C, that’s the note you hear when the instrument is played.
Transposing instruments, on the other hand, play a different pitch than what is written on the sheet music. For example, when a B-flat trumpet plays a written C, it actually sounds like a B-flat.
For non-transposing instruments, like the violin or piano, what you see on the page is exactly what you hear.
Which instruments from the strings family are transposing?
In the string family, the double bass is the only transposing instrument.
Double Bass – It is a transposing instrument, meaning when it plays a written note, the pitch heard is an octave lower than what is written.
The other string instruments (violin, viola, cello) are non-transposing, meaning the pitch you see in the sheet music is exactly what you hear.
What’s the voice range for the violin?
Violin
Range: G3 (G below middle C) to A7 (almost three octaves above middle C)
The violin has the highest pitch range among string instruments and is considered a treble instrument.
What’s the voice range for the viola?
Viola
Range: C3 (one octave below middle C) to E6 (just above the treble clef staff)
The viola is a alto instrument, with a lower range than the violin.
What’s the voice range for the cello?
Cello
Range: C2 (two octaves below middle C) to A5 (two octaves above middle C)
The cello covers a wide range and is often used for bass, tenor, and treble parts.
What’s the voice range for the double bass?
Double Bass
Range: E1 (two octaves below middle C) to G4 (above middle C)
The double bass is primarily a bass instrument, though it can sometimes play in the tenor range. It’s the lowest instrument in the string family.
Definition of the playing technique Pizzicato (pizz)
Pizzicato (pizz)
Meaning: Plucking the strings with the fingers instead of using the bow.
Usage: Often indicated by “pizz.” in the music. You might hear a “twangy” sound when the strings are plucked.
Definition of the playing technique Arco
Meaning: Playing with the bow, as opposed to pizzicato (plucking).
Usage: After a passage of pizzicato, the music will often instruct the player to return to using the bow with “arco.”
Definition of the playing technique Con Sordini
Meaning: Play with a mute on the instrument.
Usage: The mute softens the sound and gives it a more muted, mellow tone.
Definition of the playing technique Sul G
Meaning: Play on the G string of the instrument.
Usage: This is used to create a deeper, more resonant sound, as the G string is the lowest string on a violin, viola, or cello.
Definition of the playing technique Sul Ponticello
Meaning: Play near the bridge of the instrument.
Usage: This produces a sharp, eerie, and somewhat metallic sound, due to the string’s proximity to the bridge.
Definition of the playing technique Senza Sordini
Meaning: Play without a mute.
Usage: This indicates to remove the mute if it was used previously and return to the full, natural sound of the instrument.
Which woodwind instruments are non-transposing?
the piccolo, flute, oboe, and bassoon are non-transposing—what is written is what is played.
What does the shape that looks like π above a note mean?
Down bow
Which instruments don’t need a reed?
The piccolo and flute, on the other hand, do not require a reed, as they produce sound by air vibrating against an edge or mouthpiece.
Which instruments have transpositions?
Cor Anglais (English Horn)
It is a transposing instrument in F. When a player reads a written C, it sounds as an E-flat (a minor third lower).
Clarinet
The B-flat clarinet is a transposing instrument. When a written C is played, it sounds as a B-flat (a major second lower).
There are other clarinets in different keys (like A clarinet), but the most common transposing clarinet is in B-flat.
Bass Clarinet
The bass clarinet is also in B-flat, like the regular clarinet, but it sounds an octave lower than written.
What does the V-shaped symbol mean above a note?
Up bow
Which instruments need a need?
In the woodwind family, the instruments that require a reed to produce sound are:
Oboe – Uses a double reed.
Cor Anglais (English Horn) – Uses a double reed.
Clarinet – Uses a single reed.
Bassoon – Uses a double reed.
Bass Clarinet – Uses a single reed.
What is the voice range for the piccolo?
Piccolo
Range: D5 (one octave above middle C) to C8 (three octaves above middle C)
The piccolo is the highest-pitched woodwind instrument, and it’s often used to add brightness and sparkle to the orchestra.
What is the voice range for the flute?
Range: C4 (middle C) to C7 (two octaves above middle C)
The flute has a very wide range and is considered a treble instrument. It is one of the most versatile woodwinds.
What is the voice range for the oboe?
Oboe
Range: B3 (B below middle C) to G6 (above the treble clef)
The oboe has a distinct, reedy sound and is a treble instrument, often used for its expressive quality.
What is the voice range of the clarinet?
Clarinet (in B-flat)
Range: E3 (E below middle C) to C7 (two octaves above middle C)
The clarinet is a treble instrument with a very flexible range and a warm, rich sound. It has a wide tessitura, making it adaptable for both high and low passages.
What is the voice range of the cor anglais?
Cor Anglais (English Horn)
Range: E3 (one octave below middle C) to G6
The cor anglais is pitched a fifth lower than the oboe, with a deeper, more mellow tone.
What is the voice range for the Bassoon?
Bassoon
Range: B♭1 (two octaves below middle C) to B♭5
The bassoon is a bass instrument with a deep, reedy sound. It has an extensive range for such a low-pitched instrument, stretching into the tenor and alto ranges as well.
