ACADEMIC DECATHLON
The Fundamentals of AP Music Theory
By Sabino Otero
FAMILIES OF
INSTRUMENTS
 All instruments are included under a certain family of instruments
STRING INSTRUMENTS
 Cordophones: Things with bows or plucks, such as Cello, Violin,
or Bass.
BRASS INSTRUMENTS
 Metal Aerophones: Buzzes vibrate air columns. These instruments
consist of trumpets, trombones, didgeridoo etc.
WOODWIND INSTRUMENTS
 Aerophones: Any Aerophones that require the player to breath
through it in order to vibrate the air column. These are recorders,
clarinets and flutes.
PERCUSSION
 Membranophones and Idiophones: Instruments that are physically
struck with objects; drums, drombones, and really… just about
anything that you can beat loudly to make music. (Requires little
actual talent to play.)
KEYBOARD INSTRUMENTS
 Anything with keys, really. Piano, keyboard…. Piano… keyboard…