Photograph by Joe Mazza / Brave Lux
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The piano is a large wooden instrument that produces sound with a system of keys that move small hammers to strike tightly wound metal strings. It is considered part of both THE PERCUSSION FAMILY and THE STRING FAMILY. The body of the piano is essentially a large wooden box on legs with a flat metal soundboard inside. The thicker (lower) pitched strings are strung on the left side of the soundboard and the thinner (higher) pitched strings on the right. Most pianos have 88 keys: 52 white and 36 black. Upright pianos are smaller than grand pianos but have the same number of keys. All pianos have a lid that can be opened or closed to change the volume.
Tom Vaitsas, Guest Musician
The cello is a member of THE STRING FAMILY that is typically considered the tenor voice of the section. The cello has four strings that vibrate by pulling a bow made of horsehair across them. A cellist must be seated with the instrument out in front of them to be played correctly.
Karen Basrak, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The instrument that we call a “drum set” or “drum kit” is actually a collection of drums and cymbals set up to be played by one person, rather than a percussion section.The drums are a member of THE PERCUSSION FAMILY. The drummer uses sticks, brushes, or mallets in their hands to hit the snare, floor and rack “tom-tom” drums. With one foot, they use a kick pedal to hit the large bass drum, and with the other foot, they push down on another pedal which opens and closes the “hi-hat” cymbals. A drum kit will also include two more cymbals mounted on stands, the large “crash” and smaller “ride” cymbals.
Jeremy Cunningham, Guest Musician
The Chimes (also known as tubular bells) are part of THE PERCUSSION FAMILY. This instrument makes a sound that resembles church bells or a belltower ringing the hour of day. The chimes are played by striking the top edge of the tube with a mallet or soft hammer.
Patricia Dash, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The bass clarinet is a member of THE WOODWIND FAMILY and most closely related to the soprano clarinet. The mouthpiece of the clarinet is usually of ebonite (a hard rubber) and it has a slot-like opening in one side over which a single reed, (made from natural cane) is secured by a screw clip. The player grips the mouthpiece, reed down, between his lips or lower lip and upper teeth and blows air into it. Clarinet is used in orchestras, military and jazz bands.
John Bruce Yeh, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Timpani are members of THE PERCUSSION FAMILY and can also be called kettledrums. They are typically metal bowls with a head stretched over the top and tuned to specific pitches.
Simón Gómez Gallego, Guest Musician
The marimba is in THE PERCUSSION FAMILY. This large instrument has wooden bars the player strikes with a soft yarn mallet. Below each bar is a metal pipe that helps produce the sound. The marimba is similar to a xylophone but larger and with a lower range.
Simón Gómez Gallego, Guest Musician
The tuba is the largest and lowest pitched instrument in THE BRASS FAMILY. To make a sound the player vibrates their lips into the mouthpiece like other brass instruments. The tuba typically has three valves to change the pitch.
Gene Pokorny, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The trumpet is a member of THE BRASS FAMILY commonly used in classical and jazz ensembles. Sound is produced by vibrating the lips in a mouthpiece. The trumpet makes the highest sounds in the brass instrument family.
Tage Larsen, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The trombone is a member of THE BRASS FAMILY commonly used in classical and jazz ensembles. Sound is produced by vibrating the lips in a mouthpiece. The trombone typically does not have any buttons or valves and uses a slide to change pitches.
Charles Vernon, Chicago Symphony Orchestra (right)
Hugo Saavedra, Guest Musician (left)
The flute is a member of THE WOODWIND FAMILY, even though it is typically made of metal. To make a sound on the instrument you blow air across an open hole, the air vibrates to create the sound. The flute is one of the oldest instruments with most cultures around the world having their own version of a flute. Flutes were once made of wood, reeds, bone and ivory (even glass) but modern flutes are made of metal (silver, nickel, brass, gold, platinum). A standard concert flute is 26 inches long and has 16 sound holes. The “flautist” or flute player makes sound by blowing air downward into a small hole at the “crown” of the flute’s hollow tube, and changes pitch by covering and uncovering the keys over the sound holes.
Emma Gerstein, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The saxophone is a member of THE WOODWIND FAMILY that is most often used in concert bands and jazz ensembles. To make sound saxophones have a single reed on the mouthpiece that vibrates. There are three common types of saxophones that vary in size: Alto, Tenor, and Baritone.
Richard Brasseale, Guest Musician
The Bassoon is the largest member of THE WOODWIND FAMILY and uses a double reed to make sound. The sound of the bassoon is made when the musician blows into the two (double) reeds and the pitch (high or low notes) are made by pressing the metal “keys” along the body of the instrument. The keys open and close the holes in various combinations to let the breath and sound project out. Most bassoons are made from the wood of maple trees. If you stood next to a bassoon, it would probably be quite a bit taller than you — it’s four feet tall!
Miles Maner, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The guitar is a member of THE STRING FAMILY but is not typically found in an orchestra. It has six strings and is played by strumming or plucking with one hand while using the fingers of the other to press the strings in various combinations to make chords. Although it is in the string family, the guitar is not an orchestral instrument. The modern acoustic guitar’s “body,” “neck,” and “bridge” and “headstock” are all made of wood, while the tuning pegs are metal. It has six strings that can be metal, nylon or other materials.
Matt Gold, Guest Musician
The harp is a member of THE STRING FAMILY. It is a large instrument with 47 strings and 7 pedals and is played by plucking the strings while changing the pitch with the pedals. The “harpist” leans this big instrument against their right shoulder to play and uses all their fingers to pluck (except their pinky fingers, they are too short and weak). Harps are made in many different sizes. Some harps are small enough to hold on your lap but the concert harp that you will see and hear in an orchestra is very large. The strings of a harp are wound around tuning pins in its frame (different colors to help the musician find the right notes). The “soundbox” or body of the harp is hollow and amplifies the sound of the vibrating strings.
Julia Coronelli, Guest Musician
The double bass (sometimes just called bass) is the lowest instrument in THE STRING FAMILY. The bass is most often found in classical and jazz music. It can be played by pulling a horsehair bow across the strings or by plucking the strings individually.
Robert Kassinger, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The violin is the smallest instrument in THE STRING FAMILY and plays the highest pitches. The violin is made of wood in the shape of a curvy hollow box. It has two holes in the shape of the small letter “f” cut in its top. The sound of the violin comes out through these “F-holes”. Four strings are pulled tight across the body of the instrument; each is held in place by a “tuning peg” in the “neck” of the violin. The “violinist” holds the violin between their chin and shoulder on a “chin rest”. They pull a “bow” (made of horsehair) across the strings to make them vibrate; this makes the sound. We call a violin a “fiddle” when it is used to play folk music.
Megan Gould, Guest Musician and Cabinet of Wonder Composer – Arranger
The viola is a member of THE STRING FAMILY that is slightly larger than the violin and it plays slightly lower notes. The viola is typically thought of as the alto voice of the string section. A viola has four strings and is played in the same manner as the violin, by pulling a horse hair bow across the strings.
Baird Dodge, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
