Woodwind instruments are those in which either air is blown over a hole to create noise (flute) or air forces a reed to vibrate and cause sound. There are 5 main types of woodwinds. The flute is a high pitched woodwind that produces noise when the air is blown over a hole causing the air inside to vibrate and cause notes. Pitches are controlled with keys. The flute dates back to ancient times, as far as 2500 BC. The clarinet is made of wood. Much like the flute, the notes are controlled with keys that cover openings in the instrument. The clarinet is very versatile. It has a wide range of tones that it can play. The oboe is a soprano ranged double reed woodwind. That means that it plays very high notes. Several modifications of the instrument exist, allowing it to serve multiple purposes. The bassoon is also double reeded. It is the bass of the oboe family. The saxophone combines the single reed of the clarinet with the bore and fingering patterns of the oboe, producing the tonal qualities of neither. The instruments fit well into bands, for their sound blends well with brass and woodwind instruments.

Flute	Clarinet	Bass Clarinet	Oboe	Bassoon	Saxophone