Puhallinsoitin

Puhallinsoitin is the Finnish word for wind instrument. This broad category encompasses musical instruments that produce sound when a stream of air is directed across an edge or through a reed, causing the air within the instrument to vibrate. Wind instruments are typically divided into two main families: woodwinds and brass instruments.

Woodwind instruments, despite their name, are not always made of wood. The classification is based on how the sound is produced. In instruments like the flute, air is blown across an opening, causing the air column to vibrate. In instruments like the clarinet and saxophone, a single reed vibrates against a mouthpiece. In double reed instruments, such as the oboe and bassoon, two pieces of reed vibrate against each other. Examples of woodwind instruments include the flute, clarinet, saxophone, oboe, and bassoon.

Brass instruments produce sound through the vibration of the player's lips against a mouthpiece. This vibration sets the column of air inside the instrument into motion. The pitch is controlled by changing the tension of the lips and by using valves or a slide to alter the length of the tubing. Common brass instruments include the trumpet, trombone, French horn, and tuba. Both woodwind and brass instruments are fundamental to many musical genres, from classical orchestras to jazz ensembles and marching bands.