What’s YOUR Band Instrument?

You have probably at least seen some band performances in your life, but have you ever thought about being in one? There are so many diverse instruments in band. I’m sure anyone could find the perfect one for themself. Before trying to play any, which ones would you really be interested in?

First is the flute, this is a woodwind instrument, meaning that there are keys to press on to change notes. The mouthpiece of the flute has a hole that you blow onto, not directly into. Your air is then able to make a note. This is a higher pitched instrument, so you can’t really play low notes.

Second in the woodwind list is the clarinet. The clarinet also has a mouthpiece, but you don’t blow on top of a hole - you place your mouth on a round piece instead. A clarinet also needs a reed, which is a thin piece of wood or plastic, that vibrates to make a sound. Like flutes, clarinets have keys that you press on to change notes, and require you to use all ten fingers. There is also the bass clarinet which has a metal horn to make it sound lower, but it is pretty much the same.

The 3rd woodwind instrument in band is the saxophone. Now, the saxophone has three types: the alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, and the baritone saxophone. The saxophone is actually very similar to the clarinet as it has a reed and keys. The alto saxophone is the highest playing one, while the tenor and baritone saxophones are more on the low side.

The 4th instrument is the oboe. The oboe is VERY similar to the clarinet. Although, it is a little bit harder because it has two reeds. The mouthpiece is quite small, so you have to be more precise with the notes. It also has keys like the other woodwinds, which makes it easier to navigate to each note. A very similar woodwind to the oboe is the bassoon, it has a similar build to the oboe, but it is a lower version.

Now that you have an idea of all the woodwinds in a band, let’s get to the brass instruments. These are all made of metal or brass unlike the woodwinds. ALL the brass instruments also have a very similar mouthpiece. It is a hole, and you would buzz your lips into it.

The 1st brass instrument is the trumpet. The trumpet is the highest instrument in this section, and can be used in many ways. It has three valves that you push down to make different notes. This is the simplest brass instrument.

The 2nd brass instrument is the French horn. This makes a sound like no other. The French horn has three valves that you can push one to change notes, but it is a little more complex than the trumpet. When holding it, you have to put your hand in the bell, this helps you hold it more comfortably.

The 3rd brass instrument is the trombone. You have probably heard this instrument because of its popularity. The trombone does not have valves, but has a slide instead. When moving the slide forward or backward, you can change notes. This is one of the heavier instruments, and can get tiring because of the arm movements. The trombone is a low-brass instrument, so it is more on the low side when playing.

The last brass instruments are the baritone and tuba. These are very similarly built instruments with the only big difference being in size. The baritone or euphonium is a much higher instrument compared to the tuba, and produces a more lyrical sound. The tuba is a full bass instrument and can only play low notes.

The last section we have is percussion. Although this really isn’t always considered a band instrument, it should still be included. Now, percussion does so many things to elevate the music piece. Whether it’s hitting the mallets or playing the drums, percussion is very important and should be recognized.

Obviously, there are so many other instruments that can be in a band, but these are the standard ones you can find in a high-school or middle-school band. Did you find one that YOU are interested in?