Percussion Instruments
These are instruments that make a musical sound when they are struck, either by the hand of the person playing it, or by a kind of stick. They are either tuned (so they play a certain note) like the xylophone, glockenspiel, or they have no particular note, like the triangle, tambourine, cymbals, and many types of drums (bongo, tenor, bass and many more).

Bowed Strings
In an orchestra, there are usually four string instruments: violins, violas, cellos and double basses. Each one has four strings and are played using a bow, or by plucking at the strings. The double bass has to be played standing up because it is so large.

One of the earlier forms of bowed instrument was called a fidel. This is why the violin's nickname is 'fiddle'.

Brass Instruments
Brass instruments are played using a metal mouthpiece that vibrates against its inner rim when you blow into it.

The trumpet is one of the most ancient of instruments and uses a set of valves that you press to alter the note it makes. The trombone is the only brass instrument that doesn't use valves: instead it uses a slide to change the note being played.

Woodwind
There are four main woodwind instruments in an orchestra. They all use a set of keys which, when pressed down or released, let different amounts of air go through the instrument, making the different notes. Examples are the flute, oboe, clarinet and the largest member of the woodwind family the bassoon (which is the bass).

Guitar
The original classical guitar is based on a Spanish instrument which has six-strings. We usually hear a mixture of the six-stringed guitar and the bass version, a four-stringed guitar.

Keyboard
Keyboard instruments are plucked (harpsichords pluck strings to make sound), struck (piano), aerated (like an organ) or electronic (electronic organ, synthesizer).