This document discusses the main families of musical instruments, including strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion. Strings include instruments like guitars and violins that are played by bowing, plucking or picking. Brass instruments are played by blowing air through a mouthpiece, like trumpets and trombones. Woodwinds such as flutes and clarinets are also played by blowing air through a reed or mouthpiece. Percussion instruments make sound by being struck, shaken, scraped or rubbed and include drums, cymbals and triangles.