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What are the Orchestra Instrument Families?

Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

An orchestra includes four main instrument families: woodwinds, brass, strings, and percussion. This is how the instruments are arranged on a stage, with minor exceptions, and how the performers' parts are arranged in the conductor’s score, except for soloists, whose parts may be given special treatment. The keyboards may be considered a separate section, as may the plucked string instruments, depending on their role in the piece. Sometimes, a keyboard or plucked string instrument will be grouped with percussion.

The string section consists of the bowed string instruments. This is the part of the orchestra that most usually distinguishes it from other ensembles, particularly a band. The strings have four types of instruments, but five sections: first violins; second violins; violas; violoncellos, familiarly called cellos; and double basses or contrabasses, also known as string basses. The number of players in each section depends on the overall size of the orchestra, but the numbers are balanced between sections.

Partial string section of an orchestra.
Partial string section of an orchestra.

The woodwind section includes reed instruments — both single and double reeds — and those that make sound from air passing over the mouthpiece. This section often has only one or two players on each instrument, again depending on the ensemble's size. There may be, for example, two flutes, with one performer doubling on piccolo; two oboes, with one performer doubling on English horn or Cor Anglais, if necessary; an Eb clarinet, two Bb clarinets, and a bass clarinet; and two bassoons and one contrabassoon. Depending on the piece, other instruments may be included, such as saxophone.

Partial brass section of an orchestra.
Partial brass section of an orchestra.

The brass section, like woodwinds, have their sound produced by air, but the brass sound is created by the vibration of the performer’s lips as she or he blows into the resonating mouthpiece. This section generally includes four French horns; two or three trumpets; two or three trombones, including both tenor and bass trombones; and tuba. Sometimes, there will also be cornets or Wagner tubas, and possibly euphoniums.

A double bass, part of the string family.
A double bass, part of the string family.

The percussion section includes instruments that make sound when struck with hand or mallet or when struck together, like cymbals. This section often includes timpani; chimes or tubular bells; celesta, harpsichord, or piano; concert harp; other pitched percussion, such as glockenspiel or xylophone; snare drum; and auxiliary percussion, such as triangle, tambourine, bass drum, and cymbals.

The keyboard section of the orchestra includes piano, celesta, harpsichord, organ, and harmonium. Which of these — if any — is employed will depend on the date and style of music.

The plucked string section includes the concert harp, guitar, mandolin, banjo, zither, and other plucked instruments that may have a role in a particular piece. The harp is the most common.

Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is passionate about reading, writing, and research, and has a penchant for correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to contributing articles to MusicalExpert about art, literature, and music, Mary Elizabeth is a teacher, composer, and author. She has a B.A. from the University of Chicago’s writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont, and she has written books, study guides, and teacher materials on language and literature, as well as music composition content for Sibelius Software.

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Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is passionate about reading, writing, and research, and has a penchant for correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to contributing articles to MusicalExpert about art, literature, and music, Mary Elizabeth is a teacher, composer, and author. She has a B.A. from the University of Chicago’s writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont, and she has written books, study guides, and teacher materials on language and literature, as well as music composition content for Sibelius Software.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

helene55

I know many musicians who think that keyboards are most certainly percussion, because the sound they make is achieved by the keys hitting the strings within the instrument.

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    • Partial string section of an orchestra.
      By: yang yu
      Partial string section of an orchestra.
    • Partial brass section of an orchestra.
      By: bepsphoto
      Partial brass section of an orchestra.
    • A double bass, part of the string family.
      By: Valeriy Lebedev
      A double bass, part of the string family.
    • There are both first and second violin sections.
      By: kirvinic
      There are both first and second violin sections.
    • Pianos are part of the keyboard family of orchestra instruments.
      By: surpasspro
      Pianos are part of the keyboard family of orchestra instruments.
    • The flute is a woodwind instrument that is played in an orchestra.
      By: xixinxing
      The flute is a woodwind instrument that is played in an orchestra.
    • Violin concertos are typically written for a soloist, who is accompanied by an orchestra.
      By: zea_lenanet
      Violin concertos are typically written for a soloist, who is accompanied by an orchestra.