Brainlag Plus
Brainlag PlusThe orchestra
The four families of the standard orchestra, how each instrument makes its sound, the clefs they read, percussion of definite and indefinite pitch, and directions for string and brass players.
Four families
At Grade 4 a passage of music may come with questions about the standard orchestra:
| Family | Instruments | How they sound |
|---|---|---|
| Strings | violin, viola, cello, double bass | a bow drawn across the strings, or plucking them |
| Woodwind | flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon | flute: blowing across a hole; clarinet: a single reed; oboe and bassoon: a double reed |
| Brass | trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba | the player's lips buzzing into a mouthpiece |
| Percussion | timpani, side drum, bass drum, cymbals | struck with sticks or beaters, or clashed |
The instruments are listed from highest to lowest in each family: violin is the highest string instrument, double bass the lowest.
The rest of this lesson and its 5 practice questions are in Plus.
Screen 1 of 4, free to read.
- 5 exam-style questions, marked as you go, each with a worked solution
- Anything you get wrong is saved to your flashcards