Alexandra+Cupps



Why is the range of a woodwind instrument so much smaller than the range of a brass instrument? I have wondered this many times but now i finally have the answer. Woodwind instruments are basically tubes with holes in them. Sound is produced through the air column inside the tube vibrating. You can make different notes by covering different holes while blowing into the tube. Longer columns of vibrating air make lower notes.



Brass instruments are basically loops of metal tubing. The longer the tubing, the lower the sound. You produce sound by blowing into the mouthpiece while buzzing your lips. To play higher notes, you buzz your lips higher causing air to move faster. Most brass instruments can change pitch by pressing and releasing valves. The sounds of a musical instrument are caused by the production of standing waves in or on the instrument. So, for woodwind insturments, it's only a matter of how many fingering combinations you can make. For brass instruments, it depends on how fast the musician can buzz their lips and how fast they can make the air move.

interesting facts/information: All brass instruments can soften the tone or change the color of the tone by placing a mute in the bell of the instrument.

Works Cited: - http://artsalive.ca/en/mus/instrumentlab/woodwinds.html - http://artsalive.ca/en/mus/instrumentlab/brass.html - []