What are some differences between woodwind and brass instruments?

Question

I want something other than one is wood one is brass i know that. I want to see if anyone can tell me something other than the basics.

Answer 1

To clarify some incorrect postings above, woodwinds are NOT always made of wood- most modern flutes and saxophones are made of brass or other metals.

The difference is in how the sound is produced: on a woodwind, the sound is made by a vibrating reed (clarinets, saxophones), pair of reeds (oboes, bassoons), or column of air (flutes, recorders.)

On all brass instruments, the sound is made by vibrating the lips (buzzing the lips).

Furthermore, all woodwinds have multiple holes which are covered either with pads or fingertips to create different notes, while all modern brass instruments use either a set of 3 to 4 valves (trumpets, french horns, tubas) or a slide (trombone) to divert air through pipes of different length to change the pitch. (There are some exceptions to this for very old brass instruments like natural trumpets or cornetti.)

Answer 2

The difference deals with the mouthpiece.  Woodwind instruments such as the clarinet, flute, saxophone, and oboe have reeds.  Brass instruments such as the tuba, trombone, French horn, and trumpet do not need reeds to play.  Reeds are wide and thin sticks that are placed on the mouthpiece.

Answer 3

Woodwinds are made out of wood and Brass are made from metals.

Answer 4

woodwinds create sound (music) by the vibration of a 'reed' in the mouthpiece.

brass instruments create the sounds by vibrations of the lips and tongues.

woodwinds are NOT controlled by covering holes with fingers-those are your wooden flutes and recorders-other woodwinds have combination of keys (buttons) and they also are NOT all the same size, end to end...look at a contra basson, oboe, if you want to see a dramatic difference.

Brass instruments can be 'straight' pipes like a basic trombone, or coiled like a french horn...have  keys (trumpet) or sliders (trombone) or neither, like a military bugle. Saxaphones are considered woodwinds even though they can be made of brass...because they have the reed mouthpiece

Answer 5

woodwind you cover holes with your fingers to make different sounds, brass you press button things to make different sounds.  Also, brass are coiled, and end bigger than the mouthpiece, woodwind are like a pipe, smooth, perfectly straight, and have the same diameter throughout.

Answer 6

Wood vs. brass....just a thought.

Answer 7

Woodwinds...i.e. clarinets, saxophones and oboes have reeds to produce sound.  Brass instruments rely on breath to make sound through the mouthpiece.  They require more skill to control the breath to make the correct sound.  Many sounds can come from one combination of buttons, for lack of a better word.  Essentially they both require control..but it takes more control to make the correct sounds with brass instruments.