woodwind

Musical instrument from which sound is produced by blowing into a tube, causing the air within to vibrate. These instruments were originally made of wood but are now more commonly made of metal. The saxophone, made of metal, is an honorary woodwind instrument because it is related to the clarinet. The flute, clarinet, oboe, and bassoon make up the normal woodwind section of an orchestra.

Woodwind instruments divide into two groups: reed instruments, and those without a reed. In a reed instrument, the air enters the instrument through an opening with a single vibrating reed, or double reeds. This group includes the clarinet, oboe, cor anglais, saxophone, and bassoon. In instruments without a reed, the air enters the through a blowhole. This group includes flute, piccolo, and recorder.

In both cases, different notes are produced by covering the holes along the instrument, which changes the length of the air column in the tube. A short air column gives a high note, and a long air column gives a low note.

There is an enormous variety of woodwind instruments throughout the world.