Musical instrument

Musical instruments are things used to make music. Anything that somehow produces sound can be considered a musical instrument, but the term generally means items that are specifically for making music.

Musical instruments can be divided by type into:

• strings (plucked or bowed)
• woodwind
• brass
• percussion
• keyboard instruments

An orchestra has instruments from four families:

• bowed string instruments (e.g. violin)
• woodwind (e.g. flute)
• brass (e.g. trumpet)
• percussion (e.g. drums)