MI: LIBRARY: INSTRUMENTS: WOODWINDS

Much like brass, woodwind instruments require to be blown, however, instead of the players lip vibrations, they use a wooden reed.  When the musician plays, air goes over and beneath the reed causing it to vibrate very quickly.

Woodwinds also have buttons like brass instruments that let air pass in different directions in shortened or lengthened paths; to produce different frequencies.

Woodwind instruments are also classified by the reeds; single and double reed.  Single reeds, as their name implies, use just one reed. But double reed instruments have two reeds that vibrate against each other.  In both cases, the reeds are usually made from bamboo.

In this category, there are a few exceptions however, such as the flute that does not use wooden reeds.  In this case, air is blown over a mouthpiece, which is a hole in the side of the instrument.