BBC Guide to the instruments in an orchestra

Have a look at this fantastic website that has examples of the sounds instruments make in an orchestra. Vital listening.

Effects

Effects are often found in popular music, on the guitar. You need to be able to recognise the sound of each.
Chorus

  Reverb

        Distortion

Brass Instruments

These are brass instruments. Trumpets, French Horn, Trombone, Tuba (in the middle). Tuba has the lowest pitch. Get used to the sound. Oh, and this is a brass quintet (5 brass instruments).

Brass instruments might use a mute to change the sound. Watch this to see how they work, and how the sound (or timbre) is different.

Percussion

Please watch this video to gain an idea about percussion instruments in the orchestra.

Instruments of the orchestra

A short video to show the instruments that are used in an orchestra, and which section they are in.

Don’t you love his funky hair?!

Listen to the sound of the instruments. These are what you have to recognise!