5.39. Musical Instruments http://www.ck12.org
- There are three basic categories of musical instruments: percussion instruments such as xylophones, wind
instruments such as clarinets, and stringed instruments such as violins.
Vocabulary
- pitch: How high or low a sound seems to a listener.
- resonance: Vibration of an object in response to sound waves of a certain frequency.
Explore More
At the following URLs, find tips and ideas for building homemade musical instruments. Then design a musical
instrument of your own. Include ways to make your instrument louder and change its pitch.
- http://www.bashthetrash.com/Instruments_Intro/How_InstrumentsWork-_Easy.html
- http://www.nyphilkids.org/lab/main.phtml?
Review
- List three properties of most musical instruments.
- Define resonance. How is resonance used in musical instruments?
- Identify the three basic categories of musical instruments.
- What is your favorite musical instrument? In which category does it belong? How do you think it makes
sounds and changes pitch?