Musical Instrument Classification

Instruments that produce sound by the vibration of air

• aerophones
• idiophones
• chordophones
• microphones

Which is an example of an aerophone?

• Violin

• Drum

• Trumpet

Instruments that involve some physical impact.

• Aerophone

• Electrophone

• Chordophone

• Membranophone/Idiophone

Drums are considered:

• membranophones

• aerophones

• chordophones

Chordophones are part of what instrument family?

• Woodwinds
• Strings
• Percussion

"Aer" means this in Greek:

• Earth

• Air

• Water

• String

"Chord" means this in Greek:

• Air

• Earth

• String

• Water

"Idio" means this in Greek:

• Self

• Air

• Earth

• String

"Phone" means this in Greek:

• String

• Self

• Air

• Sound

An "idiophone" refers to an instrument that produces sound waves when:

• a string is plucked or bowed.

• it is struck or hit by a mallet or against itself (its own materials cause the vibrations/sound waves!).

• a column or air is produced inside of it.

• a membrane is struck or hit (the membrane is what is vibrating, not the body of the instrument itself).