String instruments Violin :- This is the little one.

The violin is the smallest and highest pitched member of the string family.The sound of the violin is high, bright and sweet.There are more violins in the orchestra than any other instrument. There can be as many as 30 or more violins in an orchestra!In an orchestra, violins get divided into two groups: first and second. First violins often play the melody.A standard violin is around 24 inches long. A violin bow is around 29 inches long. You play the violin by tucking it between your chin and shoulder. Your left hand presses down on the strings to change the pitch, and your right hand moves the bow or plucks the strings. Viola :- This may look like a violin, but dont be fooled, its a viola. Its a bit larger in size and lower in pitch than the violin. The sound of the viola is deeper and warmer than the violin. There are 10-14 violas in an orchestra. A standard viola is around 27 inches long A viola bow is around 29 inches long. It's a little thicker and heavier than a violin bow, since the strings of the viola are a little thicker than the violin's strings. Like the violin, you play the viola by tucking it between your chin and shoulder. Your left hand presses down on the strings to change the pitch, and your right hand moves the bow or plucks the strings. Cello :- The cello looks like the violin, but it's much larger with a shorter neck and a lower pitch. The cello makes a wide range of beautiful sounds, from warm low notes to rich high notes. There are 812 cellos in an orchestra. A standard cello is around 4 feet long. The cello bow is over 28 inches long and is thicker than a viola bow. To play it, you sit in a chair with the body of the cello between your knees, and with the neck of the cello on your left shoulder. The cello rests on the ground, supported by a metal peg. With your left hand, you press down on the strings to change the pitch, and with your right hand, you move the bow or pluck the strings. Double Bass:- Heres the big one. The double bass is the biggest and lowest pitched instrument in the string family. The deep, very low sounds of the double bass are often used to help hold together the harmonies and to help carry the rhythm.There are 6-8 double basses in an orchestra.A standard double bass is just over 6 feet in length.The double bass has sloping shoulders, which makes its shape slightly different from the violin, viola, and cello.A double bass bow is 26-27 inches long and very thick and heavy.The double bass is so large that you have to stand up or sit on a very tall stool to play. It stands on the ground, supported by a metal peg, and rests on your left shoulder. It has very long strings which give it a very low sound. Like most of the other string instruments, you use your left hand to press down on the strings to change the pitch, and your right hand to move the bow or pluck the strings. Harp:- The harp is a large instrument with 47 strings, which are stretched across a wooden frame. The bottom part of the wooden frame is hollow. There are 1 or 2 harps in an orchestra.A standard harp is 6 feet tall and weighs 80 to 90 pounds.To play it, sit down with your legs on either side of the harp. The harp leans slightly on your right shoulder. Each string sounds a different note and you play them using one hand on each side of the strings. You pluck and brush across the strings with your fingertips and thumb. At the bottom of the harp on the back are seven pedals, which are operated by the feet. The pedals allow each string to sound 3 different notes. Wood Wind Family

Flute:- Throughout history, flutes have been made from lots of materials, including wood. Today flutes are usually made from silver, gold or some other type of metal.A standard flute is around 27 1/2 inches long.There are 2-4 flutes in an orchestra.You play the flute by holding it sideways with both hands and blowing across a hole. You use your fingers to open and close the keys, which changes the pitch of the sounds. OBOE:- The oboe is a long slender black tube with metal keys. It looks a lot like a clarinet, except for the mouthpiece. The oboe has a double reed, two pieces of wood tied together that look like a flattened straw. The double reed is inserted into the top of the instrument mouthpiece.There are 2-4 oboes in an orchestra. A standard oboe is 2 feet long.To play it, you hold the oboe in up-and-down position, put the end of the double reed in your mouth and blow. You use both hands to press on the keys to open and close the holes, and change the pitch of the sounds Clarinet:- The clarinet is a long slender black tube with a flared bell and metal keys. It looks a lot like an oboe, except for the mouthpiece.Unlike the oboe, the clarinet uses a single reed, which is fastened to a mouthpiece.The clarinet comes in a range of sizes. The most popular one is the B-flat clarinet. There are 2-4 clarinets in an orchestra. A standard clarinet is 26 inches long.To play it, you hold the clarinet in an up-and-down position, put the mouthpiece and the reed in your mouth, and blow. You use both hands to press on the keys to open and close the holes, and change the pitch of the sounds. Basson:- This is a big one. The bassoon is a long tube, folded in half, with lots of metal keys. The fold makes it easier to play. If it were straight, the bassoon would be around 8 feet long. The bassoon has a double reed like the oboe, and a long, slim, curved mouthpiece. There are 2-4 bassoons in an orchestra. To play it, you hold the bassoon in an up-and-down position, put the double reed in your mouth, and blow. The air travels down the tube and then makes a u-turn and goes up and out the top. You use both hands to press on the keys to open and close the holes, and change the pitch of the sounds. ContraBassoon

Brass family:French Horn

Trumpet

Trombone

Tuba