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Classificationofinstrumentsrevisednov2013 131125184742 Phpapp01

The document discusses different ways of classifying musical instruments, including the traditional orchestral classification and the Hornbostel-Sachs system. The Hornbostel-Sachs system identifies five main categories of instruments: aerophones, chordophones, membranophones, idiophones, and electrophones. Each category is described along with examples.

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11 views

Classificationofinstrumentsrevisednov2013 131125184742 Phpapp01

The document discusses different ways of classifying musical instruments, including the traditional orchestral classification and the Hornbostel-Sachs system. The Hornbostel-Sachs system identifies five main categories of instruments: aerophones, chordophones, membranophones, idiophones, and electrophones. Each category is described along with examples.

Uploaded by

jomel frias
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Classification

of
Instruments
Classification
• Musical instruments may be classified or
grouped in several ways
• Traditionally, the European culture classifies
instruments according to orchestral
instrument families.
Orchestral Instruments
• Woodwind – most were originally made
from wood; all produce sound by blowing,
some of them by vibrating a reed.
• Brasswind – originally made from brass;
also produce sound by blowing
• Percussion – these instruments are made
from a variety of materials and involve
some physical impact (percussion) to
produce sound
• String – These instruments have strings
Some instruments from…
Some instruments from…
Some instruments from…
Some instruments from…
Ethnographic Classification
• Orchestral classification does not cover
the wide variety of instruments and
playing styles which are found in
various ethnic groups worldwide.
• Early in the 20th century Erich Moritz
von Hornbostel and Curt Sachs derived
a system to classify all musical
instruments.
Ethnographic Classification
• The Hornbostel-Sachs system is based
on how an instrument creates vibrations
in order to produce sound.
• This is the most widely accepted system
of musical instrument classification used
today.
Classification of Instruments
• Hornbostel-Sachs system identifies
five categories of instruments.

• Aerophones • Membranophones
• Chordophones • Electrophones
• Idiophones
Aerophones
• An aerophone produces its sound by the vibration of air

• The two main families that are aerophones are woodwind


and brass instruments.

• Most Woodwinds use the air and reeds to vibrate.


• Brass use air and the player’s lips to vibrate.
• Some keyboard instruments also use air as
the source of vibration and can be considered
aerophones.

• Can you name any Aerophones?


Unusual Aerophones
• Dgeridoo - Australia
• Panflute - Peru
• Bagpipe – British Isles
• Shakuhachi - Japan
• Shofar – Middle Eastern (Jewish)
Chordophone Instruments

• Chordophones are part of the string instrument family.


• They produce sound by the vibrating of strings.

• To make the sounds: pluck, bow or strike the strings.


• This is done by a pick, bow or the musician’s hand.

• Can you name any Chordophones?


Unusual Chordophones
• Celtic Harp – British Isles
• Koto - Japan
• Washtub Bass – Southern USA, Jamaica
• Harpsichord - Europe
Electrophone Instruments
• This is the newest category of instruments. They have
only been around since the 20th century.
• Electrophones produce an electronic sound.

• The two main families of electrophones are electronic


instruments and amplified acoustical
instruments.

• What are some Electrophones that you have heard?


Membranophones

• Membranophones produce sound


• when a stretched skin (membrane)
vibrates.
• Different materials can be used to make
membranophones, including
wood, metal, or ceramics.
Membranophone Instruments

• These instruments may have definite or indefinite


pitch. What does this mean?
• percussion family
• These belong to the. How many different kinds of
drums do you know?
Idiophone Instruments
• Idiophones produce a
sound by the vibration of
the actual instrument
itself.
• These instruments can be
struck, rubbed, shaken or
plucked.
• This category belongs to
the percussion family.
• How many can you
name?
Review
• Instruments can be classified into what
5 categories?
• Aerophones produce sound by the vibration of
what?
• Chordophones produce sound by the vibration of
what?
• Electrophones produce what kind of sounds?
• Membranophones produce sound by vibrating
what?
• Idiophones use the vibration of what?
• Can you give examples of each category?
Instrument Match
• Aerophone • Flute
• Conga
• Chordophone • Mandolin
• Synthesizer
• Idiophone • Pipe Organ
• Timpani
• Membranophone • Guiro
• Amplified Acoustic
• Electrophone Guitar
• Castinets
• Cello
Acknowledgements
• Adapted from a presentation found on Lewiston-
Porter Central School District’s web site.
• http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/texth/H
ornbostel-Sachs.html
• http://thebirdfeednyc.com/2012/08/20/musical-
instrument-families/

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