Title: Woodwind Instruments
Headings: Woodwind Instruments
Woodwind Instruments
Content: Woodwind Instruments
Woodwind Instruments
Overview
Woodwind instruments include flutes and reed instruments, both of which produce sound by blowing air into a cylindrical body. Called woodwinds because they were traditionally made of wood, they’re now made of both wood and metal. Woodwinds are set apart from the rest of the wind instrument family because of the way sound is produced. Unlike brass instruments, in which air passes through the player’s vibrating lips, flutes are sounded by directing a narrow stream of air into the instrument and reed pipes are sounded by directing air through one or more thin reeds. Woodwinds come in a wide variety of types, ranging from simple, improvised instruments to complex, intricate ones. Most woodwind instruments, but not all, are cylindrical and allow air to enter through a narrow opening, which directs the air inside to a sharp edge. As the airstream vibrates inside the instrument, finger holes are opened and closed along the body to create different notes. However, there are flutes and reed pipes that are simply open tubes with no holes, in which pitch is changed based on the speed of airflow. Most modern woodwind instruments are made of woods like bamboo and teak, or metal alloys, usually containing nickel, silver, or copper. Most reeds are fashioned from natural cane with one end thinned down, although there are some made from synthetic materials like plastic.