Woodwind Instruments and Sound Production, Continued

Woodwinds that use reeds are either single reed instruments or double reed instruments. Single reed instruments include the clarinet and saxophone, while the double reed instruments include the oboe, bassoon, and English Horn. When the players want to stop the sound on a woodwind instrument, they simply stop the air flow. The flute is unique among woodwind instruments because it doesn’t have a reed. Instead, air is blown across an opening on the mouthpiece. Woodwind instruments have a series of holes drilled down the length of the instrument. As more and more of these holes are covered with fingers or pads, the column of air gets longer and the notes get lower.