INSTRUMENTS AND THEIR CLASSIFICATION

Nota:

• This classification is based on the study of the instruments of the orchestra. It establishes a division of three big families: string, wind and percussion.

1. Three big families
   1. STRING INSTRUMENTS

      Nota:

      • These are all the instruments in which the sound is produced by the vibration of one or more tightened strings. Depending on the technique used to make the strings vibrate, we distinguish three types.
      1. Bowed string

         Nota:

         • The sound is produced when the string are rubbed with a bow. All of them have four strings and a very similar shape.
         • Cuerda frotada
         1. violin
         2. viola
         3. violoncello
         4. double bass
      2. Plucked string

         Nota:

         • The sound is produced when the strings are plucked with the fingers or a pick or plectrum.
         • Cuerda punteada
         1. guitar
         2. harp
      3. Struck string

         Nota:

         • The sound is produced when the strings are struck or hit with a hammer triggered with a keyboard.
         • Cuerda percutida
         1. piano
   2. WIND INSTRUMENTS

      Nota:

      • The sound is produced by the vibration of the air column inside the tube of the instrument
      1. WOODWIND

         Nota:

         • They can have three different kinds of mouthpiece
         1. Beveled edge

            Nota:

            • Borde biselado
            1. recorder
            2. transverse flute
         2. single reed

            Nota:

            • Lengüeta simple
            1. clarinet
            2. saxophone
         3. double reed

            Nota:

            • Lengüeta doble
            1. oboe
            2. bassoon
      2. BRASS

         Nota:

         • They are instruments made up of metal alloys
         1. trumpet
         2. trombone
         3. horn
         4. tuba
   3. PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS
      1. Pitched percussion

         Nota:

         • Instrumentos de afinación determinada
         • These instruments can produce pitched notes and, therefore, they can perform melodies.
         1. kettledrum
         2. xylophone
         3. carillon
         4. tubullar bells
      2. Unpitched percussion

         Nota:

         • Instrumentos de afinación indeterminada
         • They produce unpitched sounds and, therefore, they can only perform rhythms.
         1. bass drum
         2. cymbals
         3. triangle
         4. ...