Glossary of musical instruments

(English-French)
Glossary of musical instruments ............................................................................................................... 1
(English-French) ......................................................................................................................................... 1
Types of Ensembles ................................................................................................................................ 3
Instrument Families ................................................................................................................................ 3
Woodwinds........................................................................................................................................... 3
Single Reed instruments – instruments à anche simple ......................................................... 3
Double reed instruments – instruments à anche double ........................................................ 3
Brass – cuivres..................................................................................................................................... 4
Strings – cordes................................................................................................................................... 4
Keyboard instruments ....................................................................................................................... 4
Percussion instruments – instruments de percussion ................................................................. 4
Voice – Voix .......................................................................................................................................... 5
Instrument parts ...................................................................................................................................... 5
Parts of the flute............................................................................................................................. 5
Parts of the recorder...................................................................................................................... 5
Parts of the clarinet........................................................................................................................ 5
Parts of an oboe ............................................................................................................................. 6
Parts of a bassoon ......................................................................................................................... 6
Parts of a brass instrument .......................................................................................................... 7
Parts of String Instruments .......................................................................................................... 8
Parts of keyboard instruments .................................................................................................... 8
Parts of percussion instruments................................................................................................ 10
Extra vocabulary: .............................................................................................................................. 10
Materials used to make instruments ........................................................................................ 10
Specific types of wood.............................................................................................................. 10

Glossary of Musical Instruments

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Glossary of Musical Instruments
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Types of Ensembles Treble (alto) recorder – flûte à bes alto

Symphony orchestra – orchestre Tenor recorder – flûte à bec tenor

symphonique
Bass recorder (bass in F)– flute à bec basse
Chamber orchestra – orchestre de chambre (basse en fa)

String orchestra – orchestre à corde Great bass recorder (bass in C) – grande

basse (basse en do)
Instrumental ensemble – ensemble
instrumental Panpipes – flute de pan – syrinx

Wind band – ensemble d’instruments à vent Whistle – sifflet

Brass band – ensemble d’instruments à Single Reed instruments – instruments à

cuivre anche simple
Clarinet – clarinette
Wind instruments – instruments à vent
Eb sopranino clarinet – petite clarinette en
Instrument Families
mib
Woodwinds – les bois
Bb / A clarinet – clarinette en Sib / La
Brass – les cuivres
Alto clarinet – clarinette alto
Strings – les cordes
Basset horn (in F)– cors de basset (en fa)
Percussions – les percussions
Bass clarinet – clarinette basse
Keyboards – les claviers
Chalumeau – chalumeau
Woodwinds
Soprano saxophone – saxophone soprano
Piccolo, octave flute – piccolo, petite flute
Alto saxophone – saxophone alto
Flute (Transverse flute or Concert flute) –
flute traversière Tenor saxophone – Saxophone ténor

Alto flute – flûte en sol ou flûte alto Baritone saxophone – Saxophone baryton

Bass flute – flûte basse Double reed instruments – instruments à

anche double
Recorder family – famille des flûtes à bec
Oboe – hautbois
Recorder – flute à bec
Oboe d’amore – hautbois d’amour
Descant (soprano) recorder– flûte à bec
Cor anglais, English horn – cor anglais
soprano
Bassoon – basson
Glossary of Musical Instruments
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French bassoon – basson (basson français) Plucked string instruments – instruments à
cordes pincées
German bassoon – fagott (basson
allemand) Harp – harpe

Contrabassoon (Double bassoon) – Lute – luth

contrebasson
Madoline – mandoline
Brass – cuivres
Guitar – guitare
Horn – cor
Keyboard instruments
French (valve) horn – cor chromatique, à
Classical organ – orgue classique
pistons
Instruments of the reed-organ family
Trumpet – trompette
Harmonium - harmonium
Bugle - clairon
Accordion – accordéon
Cornet - cornet
Mouth organ – harmonica
Trombone – trombone
Stringed keyboard instruments –
Tenor trombone – trombone ténor
instruments à clavier à cordes
Bass Trombone – trombone basse
Harpsichord – clavecin
Tuba – tuba
Piano – piano
Euphonium – tuba ténor
Grand piano – piano à queue
Tenor horn – corne de ténor, saxhorn ténor
Upright piano – piano droit
Flugelhorn - bugle
Percussion instruments – instruments de
Strings – cordes percussion
Bowed string instruments – instruments à Drum – tambour
cordes frottées
Bass drum – grosse caisse
Violin – violon
Tenor drum – caisse roulante
Viola – violon alto
Side drum – caisse claire
Cello - violoncelle
Snare drum – caisse claire munie d’un
Double bass – contrebasse timbre

Bow - archet Tambourine – tambour de basque

Glossary of Musical Instruments

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Timpani , kettle drums – timbales Counter-tenor - contre ténor, haute-contre

Cymbals – cymbales Tenor - ténor

Gong, tamtam – gong, tam-tam Baritone - Baryton

Bell – cloche Bass – basse

Triangle – triangle

Cimbalom, dulcimer - tympanon, Instrument parts

cymbalum
Parts of the flute
Castanets – castagnettes Head joint – tête

Rattle – crécelle Crown / tuning cork– bouton ou vis d’accord

Whip – fouet Embouchure hole - embouchure

Anvil – enclume Lip plate – plaque d’embouchure

Chinese wood blocks – blocs chinois Barrel – emboîture / partie coulissante

Chinese cymbals– cymbales chinoises Middle joint - corps

Xylophone – xylophone Foot joint – patte (d’Ut / de Si)

Marimba – marimba Rod system - tringle

Celesta – celesta Keys – clés / plateaux

Vibraphone – vibraphone Pads – tampons

Glockenspiel – glockenspiel Parts of the recorder

Mouthpiece, beak – bec, embouchure
Carillon - Carillon
Head joint or Head node- Tête
Clavichord - clavicorde
Window, ramp – fenêtre, biseau
Voice – Voix
Soprano – soprane body, middle joint, middle node - Corps

Mezzo-soprano – mezzo-soprano Foot joint, foot node – Pied, pavillon

Contralto – contralto Tone holes - Trous

Alto – alto Parts of the clarinet

Mouthpiece – bec
Male soprano - sopraniste
Glossary of Musical Instruments
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Ligature – ligature Keys - Clés

Reed – anche Bell – pavillon

Barrel – Baril /barillet

Upper section, upper joint – corps du haut Parts of a bassoon

Reed – anche
Lower section, lower joint – corps du bas

Bell – pavillon

Keys – clés

Register key – clé de 12ème

Pads – tampons

Cork - liège

Parts of an oboe
Reed – anche

Parts of the oboe reed:

Bocal / crook – Bocal

Bell / Bell joint – Bonnet

Bass joint / long joint – Grand corps/

grande branche

Tenor joint / wing joint – petit corps/petite

branche

Boot joint / double joint – culasse

Rod system - Système de tringles Hand rest / saddle /crutch– appui de la
1st Octave key - Clé d’octave aigüe main

2nd octave key – clé d’octave basse Keys – clés

Upper section / joint – corps du haut Cork – liège

Lower section / joint – corps du bas

Glossary of Musical Instruments
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Parts of a brass instrument
Mouthpiece – embouchure

Lead Pipe - Branche d’embouchure /

branche principale

Tuning slide – coulisse d’accord

Finger ring (saddle)– anneau de coulisse

pinkie hook – crochet d’auriculaire

Bell pipe - Tonnerre

Bell – Pavillon

Slide – coulisse / pompe

Slide bumper / ferrule / knob– potence

talon

Counterweight - Contrepoids

Slide lock - Verrou de coulisse

Brace / strut- barrette

Valve – piston

Valve cap – dessous de piston

Water key / spit valve – clé d’eau

Adjustable hand rest - Patte d’oie

Rotary valve – barillet / piston rotatif

Glossary of Musical Instruments

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Parts of String Instruments

Parts of keyboard instruments

Keys – touches

Keyboard – clavier

music rack / desk – pupitre

Scroll – tête pedal - pédale

“eye” of the scrole - volute soft pedal – pédale douce

Tuning pegs – chevilles sostenuto pedal – pédale de prolongement

/ prolongation ; pédale de soutien
Peg box –
damper / sustain(ing) pedal
Fingerboard – Touche
– pédale forte
Neck – manche
hammers - marteaux
Saddle / Nose - talon
strings - cordes
Strings - cordes
muffler felt - feutre d’étouffoir
Body – table
tuning pin - cheville d’accord
F-holes - ouïes
pin block - sommier
Adjusters / fine tuners - tendeurs
frame - cadre
Bridge – chevalet
soundboard - table d’harmonie
Chinrest - mentonnière
lid - couvercle
Tail piece – cordier
lid prop / stick - béquille
Endpin – bouton / pique
châssis – casing
Bow – Archet

Screw – vis / bouton

Frog – hausse / talon

Stick – baguette

Hair – mèche de crins

Tip – tête/pointe
Glossary of Musical Instruments
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Illustrated example: The Harp

Illustrated example: The Organ

Glossary of Musical Instruments

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Parts of percussion instruments
Stick - baguette

Mallet - maillet Illustrated example: The Timpani -

Head – tête

Skin – peau / membrane

Rim – bord / cerclage

Resonators / resonator pipes–

résonateurs

Frame – cadre

Tone plates / bars – lames

Extra vocabulary:
Materials used to make instruments
Wood – bois Grenadilla wood / African blackwood –
Metal – métal grenadille d’Afrique / ébène mozamique
Gold – or Kingwood – bois de violette
Silver – argent Mahogany – acajou
Copper – cuivre Maple wood – érable
Nickel – nickel Medlar – néflier
Platinum – platinum Oak – chêne
Specific types of wood Olive wood – bois d’olivier
Ash – frêne Pearwood – Poirier
Beech – hêtre Pernambuco / Brazilwood – bois de
pernambouc
Birch – bouleau
Pinewood – pin
Boxwood – buis
Plumwood - prunier
Cedar – cèdre
Rosewood – palissandre / bois de rose
Cocobolo – bois de cocobolo
Snakewood – bois d’amourette
Ebony – ébène
Spruce – épicéa
Elmwood – orme
Walnut –noyer

Glossary of Musical Instruments

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