Woodwind instrument

Woodwind instruments are a family of musical instruments that belong to the larger group of wind instruments. They are special because they make sound in unique ways.

Common woodwind instruments include the flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and saxophone. There are two main types: flutes and reed instruments. Flutes make sound by splitting the air on a sharp edge, like in a recorder. Reed instruments use small pieces called reeds that vibrate with the air to make sound, such as in a clarinet or bassoon.

Even though they are called "wood"winds, these instruments can be made from many materials, not just wood. They are often made from brass, silver, cane, or even rare metals like gold and platinum. For example, the saxophone is made of brass but is still a woodwind because it uses a reed to create sound. Some woodwinds, like ocarinas, are sometimes made from earthen materials.

Flutes

Main article: Flute

Flutes make music by blowing air over a hole in a tube. There are two types of flutes: open and closed.

With an open flute, you blow air across a sharp edge. This makes the air inside the flute vibrate and creates sound. Examples of open flutes are the transverse flute, panpipes, and shakuhachi. Old flutes were often made from plants like bamboo. Today, they are usually made from metals such as tin, copper, bronze, or mixes with nickel, silver, or gold.

With a closed flute, you blow air into a small duct that leads to a sharp edge. This also makes the air inside the flute vibrate. Examples of closed flutes include the recorder, ocarina, and organ pipes.

Reed instruments

Reed instruments make sound by blowing air into a mouthpiece that makes a reed or reeds vibrate. They are split into two groups: single-reed and double-reed instruments.

Single-reed woodwinds have one reed attached to the mouthpiece. When you blow between the reed and the mouthpiece, it makes the air inside the instrument vibrate, creating sound. Instruments in this group include the clarinet and saxophone.

Double-reed instruments use two small pieces of cane bound together. The bound reed is placed in the instrument and vibrates when you blow between the two pieces. This group is split again into two types: exposed double reed and capped double reed instruments.

Exposed double-reed instruments are played with the reed directly between the player's lips. This family includes the oboe, cor anglais, and bassoon, along with many types of shawms found around the world.

Capped double-reed instruments cover the reed with a cap. The player blows through a hole in the cap, which directs the air to the reeds. This family includes the crumhorn.

Bagpipes are special because they use two or more reeds, either double or single, but they work like capped double reed instruments since the reeds do not touch the player's lips directly.

Free reed aerophone instruments are also unique. They produce sound using small metal tongues called "free reeds" arranged in rows. You can make these instruments sound either by blowing yourself (like a harmonica) or by using a bellows (like an accordion).

Modern orchestra and concert band woodwinds

Main article: Woodwind section

In a modern orchestra, the woodwind section usually has flutes, oboes, clarinets, and bassoons. Extra instruments like the piccolo, cor anglais, bass clarinet, E-flat clarinet, and contrabassoon can also be added. Sometimes, saxophones are used too.

The woodwind part of a concert band is usually bigger and has more kinds of instruments than an orchestra. It often includes piccolo(s), flutes, oboes, B♭ clarinets, bass clarinet(s), bassoons, alto saxophones, tenor saxophone(s), and baritone saxophone(s). Other instruments like alto and bass flutes, cor anglais, E♭ clarinet, alto clarinet or basset horn(s), contra-alto or contrabass clarinet(s), contrabassoon, and soprano and bass saxophones may also be used sometimes.