Woodwind Instruments
Nick Confer
Strings
O
Eh
Cl Ss
St
Cb
Sa Sc
Cb*
C
P
Bb
Eb
F
Mr. Mixon
Sb
G
V
C
Va
Co
H
E
G
B
Bd
Brass
F
Fh
Eb
Ta
Eb
T
C
Tt
Keyboards
Tb
Eu
Tu
Regular
Pi
Pf
Pt
Electric
Pe
Pa
Ct
Misc.
Sy
Percussion
Ranged
Drums
Ds
Dt
Da
Ti
Pitched
Percussion
Tg
Ds
Te
Cy
Bells HighLow
Gs
Xy Vb Mb
Dull
Sy
Ob Bg
Tm
Ce
The Periodic Table of
Instruments
Eg.: Instrument- Symbol, Key/Pitch/Class
Woodwind:
Flutes-F, C
Oboes-O, C
Piccolo-P, C
English Horn-Eh, C
Clarinet-Cl, Bb
Bass Clarinet-Cb, Bb
Alto Saxophone-Sa, Eb
Tenor Saxophone-St, Bb
Soprano Saxophone-Ss, Bb
Bass saxophone-Sb, Bb
Contrabass saxophone-Sc, Eb
*Contrabass Clarinet* (Uncreated instrument)-Cb, Bb or Eb
Brass:
French Horn-Fh, F
Trumpet-T, Bb
Cornet-C, Bb
Tuba-Tu, Bb
Alto Trombone-Ta, Eb
Tenor Trombone-Tt, Bb
Bass Trombone-Tb, Bb
Euphonium-Eu, Bb
Strings (From the Lowest Note After Tuning):
Violin-V, G
Viola-Va, C
Cello-Co, C
Bass-B, E
Double Bass-Bd, B
Harp-H, C
Guitar-G, E
Keyboard:
Piano-P, Classic/Regular
Forte Piano-P, Classic/Regular
Tangent Piano- Pt, Classic/Regular
Synthesizer-Sy, Misc.
Clavinet-Ct, Electric
Celesta-Ce, Classic/Regular
Electric Piano-Pe, Electric
Pianet-Pa, Electric
Percussion:
Timpani-Ti, Ranged Drums
Snare Drum-Ds, Ranged Drums
Tenor Drum-Dt, Ranged Drums
Bass Drum-Da, Ranged Drums
Cymbals-Cy, Pitch Percussion
Tam-Tam-Tm, Pitched Purcussion
Triangle-Tg, Pitched Percussion
Wood block-Wb, Dull
Tambourine-Te, Pitched Percussion
Glockenspiel-Gs, Bells
Xylophone-Xy, Bells
Vibraphone-Vb, Bells
Chimes-Ch, Pitched Percussion
Marimba-Mb, Bells
Octoban-Ob, Pitched Percussion
Bongos-Bg, Pitched Percussion
1. Describe the basis of you arrangement. (What unique characteristics(s) allows your objects to be arranged in their particular
manner?)
I divided the types of instruments into five different groups; Woodwind, Brass, String, Keyboard, and Percussion.
Each table is organized vertically by pitch or class. Horizontally from left to right they go from highest to lowest octave of the
pitch.
2. What are the important features of your table?
The symbols (list included), the pitch/class, patterns of instruments, and the
3. How is your arrangement of objects similar to the Periodic Table of Elements? Explain. For example, you could discuss:
a. Do you have names for the rows or columns?
I have specific names for each row because the rows are by pitch. Here is the list of pitches:
G, F, Eb, C, Bb, Regular (Keyboards), Electric (Keyboards), Misc. (Keyboards), Ranged Drums, Pitched Percussion, Bells, and
Dull (Percussion).
b. Are your objects arranged by mass/ shape/ color?
When the instruments are classified by pitch many rows of the same type of instrument form (eg. Saxophones the start with S).
c. Can your table be divided into different groups?
They are divided into Woodwind, Brass, String, Keyboard, and Percussion.
d. Do the objects in your rows or columns have special or similar properties?
Vertically they are divided into pitch for Woodwind, Brass and String. Similar to 2 patterns emerge in rows.
For Keyboards they are grouped into types of keyboards (eg. Electric.)
For Percussion I grouped them by Ranged Drums (eg. Tenor Drum.)
4. How is your arrangement different from the Periodic Table of Elements? Explain.
My table is not connected to each part of itself unlike The Periodic Table of Elements. Also my table doesn’t have specific numbers
and masses.
5. Mendeleev created a periodic table of elements and predicted characteristics of missing elements. Make a prediction about an object
on your table that has not yet been discovered (the object will follow the last known one on your table). You should provide an actual
example of the object and you should provide detailed reasoning for why this particular object will fit onto your periodic table
according to your arrangement.
Noted with * for symbol and table. The instrument I predicted is the Contrabass Clarinet. I predicted this because the similar
instrument to clarinet is the saxophone. The saxophone, like the clarinet, has a bass version (Bass Saxophone). However only the
saxophone has a contrabass version, so I made the connection and
Works Cited
"Cello Tuning." Cello Online - Tuning. RK Deverich. Web. 08 Nov. 2012. <http://www.celloonline.com/tuning.htm>.
Schmidt-Jones, Catherine. "Connexions." Transposing Instruments. 12 Jan. 2012. Web. 08 Nov. 2012.
<http://cnx.org/content/m10672/latest/>.
Simmons, Lee. "Bass (Violin)." EHow. Demand Media, 29 May 2008. Web. 08 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.ehow.com/how_2300038_tune-bass-fiddle.html>.
"Violin Tuning." Violin Online - Violin Tuning. RK Deverich. Web. 08 Nov. 2012. <http://www.violinonline.com/tuning.htm>.
Evpcd. Gary Rocks. A Blog about Collecting Vintage Rock and Roll Memorabilia. Web. 08 Nov. 2012.
<http://garyrocks.wordpress.com/2009/02/16/keith-richards-and-his-5-string-guitar/>.
"Harps." How Are Harps Tuned? 25 June 2002. Web. 08 Nov. 2012. <http://www.celticharper.com/tuneharp.html>.
Unknown. "Double Bass." The Double Bass: Tuning. SoundJunction. Web. 08 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.soundjunction.org/thedoublebasstuning.aspa?NodeID=0>.