Strings
The smallest stringed instrument in the orchestra.
What is a violin?
The modern version has steel strands underneath to give it a distinct sound that can be "on or off".
What is a snare drum?
This uses a slide rather than valves.
What is a trombone?
This woodwind is often mistakenly categorized as a brass instrument. Its family consists of soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone: all produce sounds using a reed.
This instrument has three vertices and is generally equilateral.
What is a triangle?
This instrument looks like a violin but slightly larger.
What is a viola?
Often confused with vibraphone, this instrument is made of wood rather than metal and has tubes underneath it.
What is a marimba?
The lowest sounding brass instrument.
What is a tuba?
The lowest pitched woodwind.
This hybrid (string/percussion) instrument has the greatest range in pitch in most orchestras.
What is a piano?
This instrument is often played while seated and generally played in the tenor range.
What is a cello?
The largest drum of the orchestra.
What is a bass drum?
It has a distinctive curl and is often played with the player's hand inside the bell.
What is a French Horn?
It is a single reed instrument with a straight cylindrical tube, a flared bell, and is often made of black wood or plastic.
What is a clarinet?
This controls the orchestra but very rarely makes a sound. The name literally means "stick."
What is a baton?
The largest and lowest pitched of the string section.
What is a double bass?
Sometimes it is called a kettle drum.
What is timpani?
It looks very similar to a trumpet but has a mellower sound and a shorter bore.
What is a cornet?
The orchestra traditionally tunes to this double reed instrument.
What is an oboe?
They make up the "heart of the orchestra."
What are the strings?
It is the only true stringed instrument with pedals.
What is a harp?
These come in versions such as the high hat, splash, crash, and ride.
What are cymbals?
It usually has two trumpets, a French Horn, trombone, and a tuba.
What is a Brass Quintet?
The name of this type of flute literally means "small."
What is a piccolo?
Although not generally used in orchestras, it is sometimes called the King of Instruments.
What is a pipe organ?