Topmusicanswers
The Woodwind Family. The instruments in this family all used to be made of wood, which gives them their name. Today, they are made of wood, metal, plastic or some combination. They are all basically narrow cylinders or pipes, with holes, an opening at the bottom end and a mouthpiece at the top.
- What makes woodwind instruments unique?
- What defines a woodwind instrument?
- Why are woodwind instruments so named?
What makes woodwind instruments unique?
The main distinction between these instruments and other wind instruments is the way in which they produce sound. All woodwinds produce sound by splitting the air blown into them on a sharp edge, such as a reed or a fipple. Despite the name, a woodwind may be made of any material, not just wood.
What defines a woodwind instrument?
Woodwind, any of a group of wind musical instruments, composed of the flutes and reed pipes (i.e., clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and saxophone).
Why are woodwind instruments so named?
The woodwind family. Historically woodwind instruments got their name from being made out of hollowed out wood and passing a stream of wind through them to generate a sound. Nothing has changed other than the material they are made from.
