Just like people, instruments live in families. In music, there are four big families: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Instruments in the same family make sound in a similar way.

The string family makes sound with strings that shake back and forth. You can pluck them with your fingers or slide a bow across them. A violin and a guitar are both strings.

The woodwind family makes sound when air wiggles inside a tube. You blow across a hole or through a little reed to get the air moving. A flute and a clarinet are woodwinds.

The brass family is made of shiny metal tubes, and you buzz your lips to play them. The buzzing air travels through the twisty tube and comes out as a big sound. A trumpet and a trombone belong to the brass family.

The percussion family makes sound when you hit, shake, or scrape it. Drums, bells, and shakers are all percussion. This family keeps the beat and adds sparkle to the music.

Strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion each make sound in their own way. When all four families play together, they make an orchestra, and the music sounds full and rich.