Reading Comprehension · Music Education
Instrument Families Lesson
A printable music worksheet giving an overview of all five instrument families — keyboard, woodwind, brass, percussion, and string.
Subject
Reading
Grade Level
Grades 3–7
Resource Type
Worksheet
Skill Focus
Music Education — Overview of All Instrument Families
The Five Instrument Families
The many instruments used to make music are divided into five families: keyboard, woodwind, brass, percussion, and string. Each family groups together instruments that share a similar way of producing sound. Learning about instrument families is a foundational step in understanding how music is made.
Instruments in the keyboard family are played using rows of keys. Each key produces a specific note. The most common keyboard instrument is the piano, which makes sound when hammers strike strings inside. Other keyboard instruments include the harpsichord, organ, and synthesizer.
Instruments in the woodwind family make sound when the player blows air against an edge, mouthpiece, or reed. Common woodwind instruments include the flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and saxophone. Many woodwind instruments were originally made of wood, though today they may be made of metal or other materials.
Brass, Percussion, and String
Instruments in the brass family make sound when the player’s lips vibrate against a mouthpiece. The vibration travels through the metal tubing of the instrument. Common brass instruments include the trumpet, trombone, French horn, and tuba.
Instruments in the percussion family make sound when they are struck, shaken, or scraped. Percussion instruments include both pitched instruments (like the xylophone and timpani) and unpitched instruments (like the snare drum and cymbals). The percussion section provides rhythm, accent, and color to music.
Instruments in the string family make sound when their strings vibrate. Strings can be plucked, bowed, or struck. Common string instruments include the violin, viola, cello, double bass, and harp. The string section is the largest section of most orchestras and provides the foundation of orchestral sound.
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