Understand How Sounds are Made by Musical Instruments

When sounds are made, air moves and vibrates. 

Let's have a look at a variety of instruments from around the world and how they make sound. 

Wind instruments

A sound is made with a wind instrument by blowing down a pipe. 

When we blow into a wind instrument, the air inside vibrates which is how the sound is made. 

Here are some wind instruments: 

Recorder
Didgeridoo (from Australia)
Bagpipes (from Scotland)

Percussion instruments

A sound is made in a percussion instrument by banging them. 

When we bang, shake, or scrape a percussion instrument a part of it will vibrate. For example, the skin of a drum or the body of a cymbal will vibrate to make a sound. 

Here are some percussion instruments: 

Drum
Cymbals
Guiro (from the Caribbean)
Balafon (from Africa)

String instruments

A sound is made on a string instrument by plucking or twanging a string. 

When we pluck the strings of a string instrument the vibration is passed into the air and you hear a sound.

Guitar
Erhu (from China, a Chinese violin)
Sitar (from India)

When sounds are made, something moves which causes vibrations. 

Let's find out more.