How to play instruments

Strings

    Most strings are played by stroking your finger across the string causing it to vibrate, some require a bow which is slid across the strings ending in the same result. Most stringed instruments have a fret board. A fret board is for example on the neck of a guitar.  The fret board is used for note changes.  You change notes by pressing on a string in the middle of each fret.

The green highlighted areas are the frets, the red highlighted areas are where you place your finger on each string you want to play.

three or more strings played at once is called a cord.

Brass

    Brass instruments are played by placing the lips on the mouth piece and vibrating the lips causing vibrations that pass through a series of tubes and pressing valves for note changes, then the air  finally escapes from the bell making the different notes. All brass instruments have windows, a window is how fast or slow you vibrate your lips.  The faster you vibrate your lips the higher the note and vise versa.

The green highlighted area is the mouthpiece, and the red highlighted areas are the valves.

Woodwinds

        Woodwinds are played by placing your mouth on the mouth piece and blowing into the instrument causing the read to vibrate, the vibration of the read is changed by pressing the keys on the sides of the instrument then the note comes out the bell of the instrument.

The green highlighted area is where the mouthpiece is, the red highlighted areas are the keys.

Percussion

    There are many different types of percussion but most are played much in the same way.  You play percussion instruments by striking them with the designated tool. (sticks, hammers, and foot peddles.)

Inside the red highlighted area is where you you strike the instrument for sound.

Pictures are from the Moses Lake House of Music. and edited by Matt