woodwind
Blown instrument category
A woodwind is a musical instrument played by blowing air through a tube, traditionally made of wood: flutes, clarinets, oboes, bassoons.
The category persists even for metal instruments like the modern flute because the classification reflects how sound is produced—through vibrating air columns—rather than material.
She plays woodwind in the orchestra.
Tube blown sideways
- clarinetSingle-reed woodwind instrument
- oboeTwin-reed wind instrument
- piccoloSmall, high-pitched woodwind
- recorderEnd-blown wooden flute
contrabassoon · fife · panpipes · ocarina · quena
Note-playing hand technique
- embouchureWind player's mouth position
- tonguingWind instrument note separation
- overblowingExcess air or emphasis
- vibratoOscillating pitch effect
articulation · legato · staccato · slur · trill · cross-fingering · voicing
One cane strip vibrating
- double-reedPaired vibrating blades
- caneStick for support
- mouthpieceOne who speaks officially
- ligatureCord for binding
embouchure · staple · shaper · scrape · profile · bevel · soaking · strength
Group of five
- sectionDistinct divided part
- orchestraLarge instrumental ensemble
- serenadeOutdoor romantic performance
- divertimentoLight instrumental chamber work
doubling · blend · balance · intonation
flute
Tube blown sideways
- clarinetSingle-reed woodwind instrument
- oboeTwin-reed wind instrument
- piccoloSmall, high-pitched woodwind
recorder · contrabassoon · fife · panpipes · ocarina · quena
fingering
Note-playing hand technique
- embouchureWind player's mouth position
- tonguingWind instrument note separation
- overblowingExcess air or emphasis
vibrato · articulation · legato · staccato · slur · trill · cross-fingering · voicing
single-reed
One cane strip vibrating
- double-reedPaired vibrating blades
- caneStick for support
- mouthpieceOne who speaks officially
ligature · embouchure · staple · shaper · scrape · profile · bevel · soaking · strength · cut
quintet
Group of five
- sectionDistinct divided part
- orchestraLarge instrumental ensemble
- serenadeOutdoor romantic performance
divertimento · doubling · blend · balance · intonation
bore
Tiresome individual or drill
barrel · tenon · socket · pad · spring · rod · pivot · cork · bocal · crook
warmth
Heat you feel
- mellownessSoft, relaxed quality
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
- brightnessDegree of light emitted
clarity · richness · airiness · sonority · darkness · roundness · depth · fullness · purity · sweetness
- woodwindsclarinet, oboe, flute, piccolo, English horn
- concertospiano concerto, concerto, violin concerto, piano concertos, violin concertos
- bassoonbassoonist, contrabassoon, double reed
- brass instrumentstrumpet, trombone, trumpets, trombones, horn
woodwindbrass
Copper-zinc metal mixture
brass instruments · brass section · brass instrument · percussion · strings
woodwindbrass
Copper-zinc metal mixture
percussion · bowed instrument · electronic instrument · synthesizer · electric guitar
- woodwind sectionAir-blown instrument ensemble
- woodwind familyInstruments played by blowing
- woodwind instrumentTube played by breath