Wood Wind Instruments
A brief overview of the most important and well-known woodwind instruments.
Saxophones
The saxophone has a relatively wide, strongly conical sound tube with a key system. The saxophone belongs to the family of woodwind instruments, as the sound is generated with the help of a vibrating reed on the mouthpiece. Usually the instrument is hung around the neck on a strap when playing. The alto saxophone and tenor saxophone are most commonly in use. Followed by soprano and baritone saxophone. Due to its size, price and weight, the alto saxophone is well suited as a beginner's instrument or as a beginner's instrument for children. In addition, the high notes do not require an overly strong approach and the low notes do not require too much air.
Clarinets
The clarinet is a woodwind instrument where the mouthpiece is equipped with a simple reed. Of the wind instruments, the clarinet has by far the largest range - with around 4 octaves. There are differently tuned clarinets. The Bb clarinet has the greatest importance in practice.
Flutes
The flute is one of the woodwind instruments and has a blow hole on the side of the pipe. It is a significant solo as well as orchestral instrument and is widely used in music. For flutes with ring keys (open keys), the fingers close the hole in the key and operate the key. The advantage: the flutist feels the air speed in the fingertips and can correct it better. It requires a more precise finger technique and is beneficial for more precise flute playing. When the keys are closed, the fingers operate the keys and the tone hole is closed. The flute generates the vibrations by blowing over a blowing edge and not through the lips, as is the case with brass instruments.
Recorders
The recorder is a woodwind instrument that belongs to the group of longitudinal flutes. To generate sound, its head contains a core made of wood or plastic, which only leaves a narrow gap (the core gap) free. Recorders are usually made up of three parts and consist of a head piece, middle piece and foot piece. Sopranino, soprano and alto recorders are also built in two parts, with the middle and foot pieces made in one piece. Large recorders such as tenor, bass and large bass flutes are also built with an angled headjoint. Due to the kink, the instruments "sit" higher on the player's body and are therefore easy to play even for children or adults with short arms. Recorders usually have seven finger holes on the front and one on the back, which also functions as an overblow hole. The two lowest finger holes can be designed as double holes, which makes the relevant semitones easier to play. In the larger recorders, most of the tone holes are closed with keys because of their large gaps.
Oboes
The oboe is a woodwind instrument with a double reed and a slightly conically drilled tube. The sound is generated with a double reed, which is taken between the inwardly curved lips and blown through with high pressure. The oboe has been a popular solo instrument since the Baroque period, and many composers valued it as the most similar to the human voice in terms of its expressiveness. She also has a permanent place in the orchestra and is therefore the first representative of woodwind instruments alongside the flute and bassoon.
Pan Pipes
The pan pipe consists of a number of tubes which can produce different high tones . With this instrument, a sound is created by directing a stream of air onto a sharp edge and cutting it (cutting edge). The pitch is determined by the length of the vibrating column of air. In the case of the pan pipe, this is done using tubes of different lengths that are bundled into rows. Almost all pan flutes are tuned diatonic and mostly in C major or G major.
Electronic Wind Instruments
Play anytime and spend hours practicing with the digital wind instruments, also known as Wind Controller. Thanks to modern software, these wind Synthesizers are able to imitate a variety of sounds from analog wind instruments. In addition, numerous other effects can be created with the appropriate programs.
