Music Dictionary - Timbre

Question 1

string instruments

violin

Answer 1

highest pitched string instrument, played with a bow/plucked

Question 2

string instruments

viola

Answer 2

medium pitched string instrument, played with a bow/plucked

Question 3

string instruments

cello

Answer 3

low pitched string instrument, played with a bow/plucked

Question 4

string instruments

double bass

Answer 4

very low pitched string instrument, played with a bow/plucked

Question 5

string instruments

harp

Answer 5

different varieties across cultures. A pedal harp, usually seen in orchestral performances, has 47 strings and pedal to change keys. Great al playing glissandos

Question 6

string instruments

acoustic or classical guitar

Answer 6

un-amplified 6 string guitar. Classical and acoustic have slight differences in style and playing techniques

Question 7

string instruments

electric/bass guitar

Answer 7

amplified 6-string electric guitar and 4-string bass guitar

Question 8

woodwind instruments

piccolo

Answer 8

highest-pitched woodwind instrument. Smaller version of the flute

Question 9

woodwind instruments

flute

Answer 9

high pitched woodwind instrument. Light airy sound

Question 10

woodwind instruments

oboe

Answer 10

double reed instrument. Quite nasal in sound, mid-to-high-pitched

Question 11

woodwind instruments

clarinet/bass clarinet

Answer 11

single reed instrument. Smooth, mellow sound, mid-to-high-pitched

Question 12

woodwind instruments

bassoon

Answer 12

large double reed instrument. Quite nasal in sound, low pitch

Question 13

woodwind instruments

electric/bass guitar

Answer 13

amplified 6-string electronic guitar and 4-string bass guitar

Question 14

brass instruments

trumpet

Answer 14

highest-pitched brass instrument, usues valves. Often played in Jazz/Latin American musci

Question 15

brass instruments

trombone

Answer 15

mid-to-low pitched brass instrument, played with a slide. Great at glissandos

Question 16

brass instruments

french horn

Answer 16

mid-to-low pitched brass instrument, played with valves and a hand in the bell. Very wide range. Sounds like a hunting horn.

Question 17

brass instruments

tuba

Answer 17

very low-pitched brass instrument, played with valves

Question 18

percussion instruments

piano

Answer 18

keyboard instrument, sound is created by strings being hit by hangers. Wide range of pitch. Good at playing glissandos

Question 19

percussion instruments

timpani/kettle drum

Answer 19

large, pitched drum. The pitch can be varies using pedals

Question 20

percussion instruments

bass drum

Answer 20

large, un-pitched drum

Question 21

percussion instruments

side and snare drum

Answer 21

small drum, with or without snare (rattle) on

Question 22

percussion instruments

xylophone

Answer 22

keyboard style instrument - wooden bars hit with medium - hard mallets (beaters)

Question 23

percussion instruments

glockenspiel

Answer 23

keyboard style instrument - metal bars hit with hard mallets (beaters)

Question 24

percussion instruments

tubular bells

Answer 24

large metal pipes hit with a special hammer

Question 25

percussion instruments

un-pitched percussion

Answer 25

cymbals, agogô bel,
tambourine, vibraslap,
sleigh beels, woodblock,
triangle, cow bell…
maracas,

Question 26

vocal ranges

soprano

Answer 26

high register of the vocal range, usually applied to a female voice

Question 27

vocal ranges

alto

Answer 27

upper-mid register of the vocal range, usually applied to a female voice

Question 28

vocal ranges

tenor

Answer 28

lower-mid register of the vocal range, usually applied to a male voice

Question 29

vocal ranges

bass

Answer 29

low register of the vocal range, usually applied to a male voice

Question 29

vocal ranges

bass

Answer 29

low register of the vocal range, usually applied to a male voice

Question 30

synthesisier

Answer 30

electronic reproduction of an instrument sound

Question 31

ensembles

solo

Answer 31

one instrument on its own

Question 32

ensembles

orchestra

Answer 32

large ensemble with all strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion

Question 33

ensembles

wind band/concert band

Answer 33

military-sounding band with woodwinds, brass and percussion

Question 34

ensembles

brass band

Answer 34

brass and percussion ensemble

Question 35

ensembles

string quartet

Answer 35

violin, viola, cello and double bass

Question 36

ensembles

choir

Answer 36

mixed groups of voices (soprano, altor, tenor, bass)

Question 37

ensembles

pop group

Answer 37

singer with electric guitars and drum kit

Question 38

caribbean instruments

steel-pan drums

Answer 38

a steel pan that is hit to produce many different notes

Question 39

caribbean instruments

claves

Answer 39

two wooden bars that are hit together and used to play the main beat

Question 40

african instruments

djembe

Answer 40

common single headed drum

Question 41

african instruments

kora

Answer 41

harp sounding african instrument

Question 42

african instruments

xylophone (balafon)

Answer 42

wooder bars played with beaters

Question 43

african instruments

talking drum/tama

Answer 43

often played with a ‘walking-like’ stick. Mid-deep tone

Question 44

indian instruments

sitar

Answer 44

stringed indian instrument, similar to the guitar

Question 45

indian instruments

tabla

Answer 45

pair of indian drums - can play several different tones

Question 46

indian instruments

shenhai

Answer 46

an Indian reed instrument - similar sound to the oboe

Question 47

indian instruments

bansuri

Answer 47

a flute-like Indian instrument

Question 48

indian instruments

sarangi

Answer 48

an Indian stringed instrument played with a bow

Question 49

indian instruments

dohl

Answer 49

drum often used in Bhangra music