Musical Instruments Flashcards
7 cards from real BM or BMus Bachelor of Music practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Musical Instruments flashcards as text
Which instrument family does the saxophone belong to?
Answer: Woodwind
Despite being made of brass, the saxophone is classified as a woodwind because it uses a reed to produce sound.
What is the typical tuning pitch of a standard orchestral oboe?
Answer: A440
The modern orchestral standard is A440 Hz, and the oboe typically provides the tuning pitch for the orchestra.
Which string instrument uses a bow with the most hair strands, requiring the widest bow width?
Answer: Double bass
The double bass bow uses the most hair to produce sufficient volume and tone on the instrument's thick, long strings.
The 'Boehm system' is most associated with improvements to which instrument?
Answer: Clarinet and flute
Theobald Boehm developed a key mechanism system that was adopted for both flute and clarinet, improving intonation and technique.
What is the name of the small keyboard instrument that preceded the modern piano?
Answer: Clavichord
The clavichord, along with the harpsichord, was a forerunner of the modern piano, producing sound by striking strings with tangents.
Which brass instrument is played with a slide rather than valves?
Answer: Trombone
The trombone uses a slide mechanism to change pitch, allowing continuous glissandi that valved instruments cannot produce.
In a standard symphony orchestra, how many double basses are typically used?
Answer: 6–10
A standard symphony orchestra typically employs 6 to 10 double basses to provide sufficient bass resonance.