Timbre and Musical Instrument Families

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Timbre and Musical Instrument Families

• Orchestral categorization
• Non- Western categorization

• FORMS 1-3

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Timbre
Timbre (a.k.a. tone color) is the special sound
that makes one instrument or voice different from
another.
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• What determines timber?
• Material the instrument is made of.
• Shape of the instrument
• Size of the instrument
• Method used to produce sound
• Words used to describe timbre
• Bright
• Dark
• Rich
• nasal

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• Functions of timbre
• To highlight a new melody
• To add variety and contrast to the music
• Used for emotional impact

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VOICE PARTS
Soprano Highest female vocal range Alto Lowest
female vocal range Tenor Highest male vocal
range Bass Lowest male vocal range
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WOODWINDS
Instruments originally made from wood that are
now often made of metal or plastic. They set a
column of air into vibration by wind moving

1. Across a mouthpiece

2) Into a whistle-like mouthpiece
3) Over 1 reed
4) Over 2 reeds
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Most woodwind instruments have a reed. Some
exceptions are flutes and piccolos.
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WOODWINDS
Flute Piccolo Recorder Clarinet Oboe
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WOODWINDS
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STRINGS
Instruments that make sounds by vibrating the
string in one of the following ways
1) Drawing a bow across them
2) Plucking them
3) Striking them
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STRINGS
Guitar Harp Violin family
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BRASS
Instruments usually made of brass. They create
sound from the vibration of the performers lips
buzzing into a cuplike mouthpiece. They have 2
ends.
1) Mouthpiece end
2) Bell shaped end (to amplify sound)
Brass instruments have a strong, rich sound
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BRASS

• Trumpet
• Trombone
• French Horn
• Tuba

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PERCUSSION
These are the most ancient instruments. They are
used to make rhythm. Percussion instruments must
be shaken, struck, or hit to make sound. There
are two groups of percussion instruments.
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PERCUSSION
Membranophones Also known as the drum family. An
instrument with a membrane (drum head) stretched
across a form (drum body). The membrane is
struck by a hand or with a stick.
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PERCUSSION

• Membranophones
• Tambourine
• Snare Drum
• Bass
• Bongo

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PERCUSSION
Idiophones Make sounds by striking rubbing,
shaking, or rattling the materials they are made
of. (Sound is generated from its own material)
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PERCUSSION

• Idiophones
• Xylophone
• Chimes
• Triangle
• Cymbals

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Non-Western Instruments
When we discuss instruments used in non western
cultures, we categorize them differently than
those in Western cultures.
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Chordophones
All stringed instruments including those that are
plucked (pizzicato), struck or bowed (arco).
Other terms for stringed instruments are
glissando and strum.
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Aerophones
Wind instruments of ALL kinds. (Here we do not
make a distinction between woodwind and brass).
Sound is generated by blowing air through a
column.
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Idiophones
Instruments where sound is generated from its own
material. i.e It is hit, struck, shaken, scraped
or rubbed.
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Membranophones
Where sound is produced by the vibration of a
membrane that is stretched across all or part of
the instrument.
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Metallophone
Any instrument consisting of tuned metal bars
which is struck to make a sound usually with a
mallet. Eg. xylophone
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Electrophones
Where the sound is produced by electronic means.
Eg. Electric guitar, keyboard, etc
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Texture

• Monophonic A single unaccompanied melody line
• Polyphonic Two or more independent melody lines
  happening simultaneously
• Homophony melody plus accompaniment