Woodwinds

Woodwind instruments are a class of musical instruments in the more generic section of wind instruments. There are two main kinds of woodwind instruments: flutes and reed instruments. What separates these instruments from different wind instruments is the system in which they create their sound. All woodwinds create sound by breaking a breathed air stream on a sharp edge, such as a reed or a fipple. A woodwind may be constructed of any material, not simply wood. Common patterns include a brass, silver, cane, as well as additional metals such as gold and platinum. Hardly woodwinds are built out of earthen materials, mainly ocarinas. Common examples involve flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and saxophones.

The modern orchestra's woodwind segment typically comprises flutes, oboes, clarinets, and bassoons. The piccolo, cor anglais, bass clarinet, E-flat clarinet, and contrabassoon are usually used additional woodwind instruments. The segment may also on occasion be extended by the addition of saxophone.

The concert band's woodwind segment is typically much bigger and extra diverse than the orchestra's. The concert band's woodwind segment typically comprises piccolos, flutes, oboes, Soprano clarinets, bass clarinets, bassoons, alto saxophones, tenor saxophones, and baritone saxophones. The cor anglais, E-flat clarinet, alto clarinet, contra-alto clarinet, contrabass clarinet, contrabassoon, and soprano saxophone are also accepted, but not as often as the additional woodwinds.