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Classification of Instruments

There are five main categories of musical instruments: aerophones, which produce sound through vibrating air (such as woodwinds and brass instruments); chordophones, which produce sound through vibrating strings (such as guitars and pianos); membranophones, which produce sound through vibrating stretched skins like drums; idiophones, which produce sound through the vibration of the instrument itself like triangles; and electrophones, the newest category which produce electronic rather than acoustic sounds.

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Harly Davidson
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802 views

Classification of Instruments

There are five main categories of musical instruments: aerophones, which produce sound through vibrating air (such as woodwinds and brass instruments); chordophones, which produce sound through vibrating strings (such as guitars and pianos); membranophones, which produce sound through vibrating stretched skins like drums; idiophones, which produce sound through the vibration of the instrument itself like triangles; and electrophones, the newest category which produce electronic rather than acoustic sounds.

Uploaded by

Harly Davidson
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Classification

of
Instruments
Classification of Instruments
In music, there are five different types of
instruments. Every instrument that is played falls
into one of these five categories. They are:

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

• The two main families that are aerophones are


woodwind and brass instruments.

• 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?


Chordophone Instruments

• Chordophones are part of the string instrument family.


• They produce sound by the vibrating of

• 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?


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?


Membranophone Instruments
Membranophones produce sound
when a stretched
skin (membrane) vibrates.
• Different materials can be used to make
membranophones, some include wood, metal, or
ceramics.
• These instruments may have definite or indefinite
pitch. What does this mean?
• These belong to the percussion family. 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?
Let’s 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

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