Choosing an instrument
Choosing an instrument
Once you have completed the Introduction to Music Course, or are in year 4 or above, it’s time to pick an instrument! Here you can read a little bit about how each instrument is played and listen to what each one sounds like.
Please read on for information to help you choose your instrument. You can also download this information as a PDF.
String Family (Bowed)
The violin, viola, cello and double bass are all built in the same way, out of different pieces of wood that are glued together. The 4 strings (sometimes 5 on a double bass) can be plucked or played using a bow to create a sound.
The violin is the smallest and highest instrument in the string family. It is held under the chin, resting on the shoulder.
Listen
The viola is bigger than the violin and sounds lower. It is played in the same way as the violin.
Listen
The cello is bigger than the violin and viola and sounds much lower. It is played sitting down and help between the player’s knees.
Listen
The double bass is the largest and lowest instrument in the string family. It is played standing up or with the musician sat on a high stool.
Listen
String Family (Plucked)
The plucked strings family includes different types of guitar, which may be plucked or strummed.
The ukulele has four strings that are plucked and strummed.
The guitar is played like the ukulele but has 6 strings. There are lots of different styles of guitar music!
The electric guitar is like a classical guitar but is not hollow. To be heard properly, it must be plugged into an amplifier.
The bass guitar has 4 strings and plays the bass line.
Woodwind Family
Instruments in the woodwind family used to be made of wood, which gives them their name. The player blows across or into the instrument to create a sound and uses their fingers to move the keys to change the notes.
The player blows air across a small hole to make a sound and moves their fingers to change the notes.
The oboe is the smaller and higher of the “double reed” instruments. Two reeds are tied together and the player blows into them to make a sound.
The bassoon is the lowest and biggest woodwind instrument. Like the oboe, it is a “double reed” instrument.
The player blows into a single reed attached to a mouthpiece to make a sound on the clarinet.
The saxophone is played in the same way as the clarinet, by blowing into a mouthpiece and a single reed.
Brass Family
Brass instruments are made out of long tubes of metal. Players blow into the instrument to make a sound, and the notes can be changed by changing the shape of the player’s lips, moving the valves or by using a slide.
The trumpet is the highest brass instrument. The player moves their lips and presses the three valves in different combinations to change the notes.
The French horn is held in the left hand and the right hand fits inside the bell. Like the trumpet, the player moves their lips and presses the three valves in different combinations to change the notes.
Unlike the trumpet and French horn, the notes on a trombone are changed by moving the slide up and down.
The euphonium is lower than the trumpet but played in a similar way. It is held upright.
The tuba is the biggest and lowest instrument in the brass family. It is played sitting down and rests in the player’s lap.
What else?
There are a number of instruments that don’t fit into any of the families introduced here.
The piano is a large instrument made up of 88 keys. When the player presses a key a small hammer inside the instrument strikes a string to make a sound
The keyboard is played in the same way as the piano but it is electronic and often smaller.
A drum kit is made up of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments which are hit with drum sticks.
Everyone can sing and you always have your voice with you! There are lots of different styles of singing and everyone’s voice can be trained.