Introduction

Layout

Conductor

Introduction
There are about 65 players in a medium-sized symphony orchestra, playing about 20 different types of instrument!

To make things easier, the instruments are divided into four "families", according to how the sound is made.

Use your mouse to find four hidden instruments in each coloured sqaure,
Click to visit each instrument or 'family'

Layout

In an Orchestra the Strings are in a semicircle at the front, with the Woodwind behind them and the Brass at either side. Percussion players sit or stand at the back.

The Conductor needs to stand where everyone can see clearly. Move your mouse around the layout picture in this space to find where the conductor should stand!

Strings

These instruments all have strings mounted on a carved wooden body.  The sound is made using a Bow that brushes across them. 

There are more String players in an orchestra than any other sort.  They all sit together at the front of the orchestra in a semi-circle, with the biggest instruments at the back on the right.

Violin

This is the smallest instrument in the string family - it is tucked under the player's chin!

Nevertheless it is so versatile that an orchestra has two groups of them, with about 8 players in each.

The First violins play the highest notes and the Second violins below them

Viola

The viola is just a little bigger than the Violin, but it makes a warmer, darker sound.

Violas also sit in a group of 6-8 players, between the violins and cellos.

Cello

The Cello is too big to be held under the chin, so instead it has a spike that rests on the floor, with the body of the instrument between the players knees

Because the instrument is bigger, it also makes more sound, so there are fewer cellos in an orchestra than Violins or Violas

Bass

The Double Bass is so big it has to be played standing up, or sitting on a high stool! It makes a very low sound.

Because of this, no-one can see over the top of them, so they play from the back of the cello section

Woodwind
These instruments were originally all made of wood. You get a sound by blowing carefully into the instrument, across an open edge, or using a reed.

  Usually there are two of each woodwind instrument in an orchestra, but various other instruments are added or substituted, depending on the music.

This is by far the most complex family, with lots of extra instruments related to four main members.

Flute
The Flute is the brightest sounding member of the Woodwind family, although it also has a smaller higher smaller cousin called the piccolo.

It used to be made of wood, but with todays bigger orchestras and concert halls, players now use metal instruments for a brighter, more brilliant sound The flute can be made of nickel, silver, or even gold.

It is very agile, and can play lots of notes very quickly

Oboe
The Oboe is usually made of very dark, hard wood, with silver finger-keys to help the player cover different holes in the instrument. This allows the oboe to play different notes.

The sound is made using two reeds very carefully bound together which fit into the top of the instrument.

The Oboe has the most stable, projecting sound, so at the beginning of a concert or rehearsal, the whole orchestra tune their instruments to match the Principal Oboe.

Clarinet

The Clarinet is similar in size to the Oboe, but with a very different sound. This is partly because a single reed is used; it is carefully attached to a mouthpiece that becomes part of the whole instrument.

The shape of the wooden body is slightly different too - the hollow inside of the instrument gets wider towards the bottom , making the sound more mellow

Bassoon

The Bassoon is much bigger than any of the other Woodwind instruments

It works just like an Oboe, with a double reed, but is more than twice as long, and actaully doubles back on itself.

Most of the time it's the lowest instrument in woodwind section, but is sometimes joined by its even bigger cousin, the Contra-Bassoon

Brass

These instruments are all made of brass, or occasionally of silver. The player makes a sound by blowing through pursed lips into a cup-shaped mouthpiece . 

Brass instruments are essentially very long tubes which have been curled up into a manageable space - hence their squigly appearance.

Horn

The Horn is the most versatile of the Brass family - it can play both high and low

Horn players tend to specialise in high or low playing, and so they are found in orchestras sitting in pairs.

Usually there are four altogether. Each player has a different part to play, unlike the strings.

Trumpet

The Trumpet is the highest Brass instrument, although it has a little cousin called the Piccolo Trumpet that can play even higher.

The traditional instrument of fanfares and marching bands, much of what the Trumpets play is exciting and loud!

Trombone
The Trombone is unlike any other instrument in the orchestra in that it actually changes shape while playing!

All other instruments rely on the player's fingers to press down valves or strings to alter the notes.
The Trombone actually gets longer and shorter by means of a slide.

There are three trombones in an orchestra - one with extra low notes called a Bass Trombone

Tuba

The lowest of the Brass instruments, the Tuba tends to move slowly.

Tuba music for marching bands is sometimes mostly "Oom-pah" phrases, but orchestral playing is more varied, although there is less for the tuba to play

There is usually only one tuba in an orchestra, so they sit next to the Trombones for company.

Percussion

This is the section of people who hit things!  Drums, Cymbals and Triangles all belong in this section. 

Within this section are a few main types of instrument, but other possibilities are literally endless. 

Percussion players don't play all the time, but when they do it can be very loud!

Timpani

The Timpani are special orchestral drums, that can actually be tuned to play specific notes.

They appear in almost every piece of orchestral music and are very important

Bass Drum

The Bass Drum is the biggest kind of drum used in orchestras.

An Orchestral Bass Drum is much bigger than the one you would find in a drum kit

It's used mostly in the loudest parts of orchestral music.

Cymbals

Cymbals are made to be crashed!

They are a great example of the huge sound you can get from a whole metal surface vibrating.

Various effects are possible with cymbals, either by suspending one on a stand and hitting with sticks, or by clashing two together.

Triangle

The Triangle is made of solid metal wrapped into a triangle shape.

It's a good example of a metal percussion instrument

It's not neccessarily very loud, but because it's high it can be heard easily