Which instruments are in the strings family?

In the default puzzle the strings are violin, cello and harp. Guitar is also a string instrument.

Is a saxophone brass or woodwind?

A woodwind. Although it is made of metal, it makes sound with a reed, like a clarinet.

Who invented the saxophone?

Adolphe Sax, a Belgian instrument maker, in the 1840s. The instrument is named after him.

Can I make a puzzle from my school band's instruments?

Yes. Type the instruments, one per line, and press Generate puzzle. Print it with an answer key.

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Musical Instruments Word Search

A musical instruments word search with 10 instruments, from piano to saxophone, plus two fixed printable puzzles: eight short instrument names for beginners and a 15 x 15 challenge of 16 more.

Words (one per line, or comma separated)

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Puzzle title

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Two printable instrument puzzles

These two puzzles are fixed: the grid is the same every time, so you can print identical sheets for a class or a party. Each has a word list, a Show answers button, a Print button and a printable answer key. Download both as a PDF (with answer keys)

Musical Instruments Word Search 1: Easy Instruments

Easy 10 x 10 grid · 8 words · 4 to 5 letters

A 10 x 10 puzzle for beginners. Eight short words, hidden across, down and diagonally down to the right only.

Name: ____________________ Date: ______________

LQXAEBGMOGEBLAOATUBATOBOENBDQHEECMEJBELBAEUGEOOULRPFUMKRLZSLLMIPCGASMTYQRFGAOOYARUHHENINPFEXUPVIAEGY

BANJOBELLFIFEGONGLYREOBOEORGANTUBA

Musical Instruments Word Search 1: Easy Instruments: answer key

LQXAEBGMOGEBLAOATUBATOBOENBDQHEECMEJBELBAEUGEOOULRPFUMKRLZSLLMIPCGASMTYQRFGAOOYARUHHENINPFEXUPVIAEGY

BANJO: row 1, column 6, down
BELL: row 3, column 7, diagonally down and to the right
FIFE: row 6, column 2, diagonally down and to the right
GONG: row 7, column 6, diagonally down and to the right
LYRE: row 7, column 1, down
OBOE: row 3, column 2, across to the right
ORGAN: row 5, column 6, down
TUBA: row 2, column 7, across to the right

Musical Instruments Word Search 2: Instruments Challenge

Hard 15 x 15 grid · 16 words · 5 to 11 letters · 12 hidden backwards or upwards

A 15 x 15 puzzle with sixteen longer words, hidden in every direction, including backwards and up.

Name: ____________________ Date: ______________

SEYKYMJTTKEGFSHHGALOIVTAMDKLHEAUICLOZDRAOBYEKRDCASTANETSNHPOMRUKULELESZNLNCOOEOOEWTELTPOIONSFZTENOBMORTLVIOENIRUOBMATCOZCIIPOSIEHPAAEDOALIDIOEASPMCPNLOFTURPSHNPOUCAOFAQRIOGSTGELOMCHVBIEDCAANLGYOCESLABMYCBBYEAXIENACKNGOAHSSWUP

ACCORDIONBAGPIPESBASSOONCASTANETSCYMBALSHARMONICAKEYBOARDMANDOLINPICCOLOSYNTHESIZERTAMBOURINETRIANGLETROMBONEUKULELEVIOLAXYLOPHONE

Musical Instruments Word Search 2: Instruments Challenge: answer key

ACCORDION: row 15, column 9, diagonally up and to the left
BAGPIPES: row 14, column 9, diagonally up and to the left
BASSOON: row 14, column 10, diagonally up and to the left
CASTANETS: row 4, column 3, across to the right
CYMBALS: row 14, column 8, across to the left
HARMONICA: row 2, column 1, down
KEYBOARD: row 3, column 15, across to the left
MANDOLIN: row 12, column 14, up
PICCOLO: row 15, column 15, up
SYNTHESIZER: row 15, column 12, diagonally up and to the left
TAMBOURINE: row 8, column 12, across to the left
TRIANGLE: row 7, column 5, diagonally down and to the right
TROMBONE: row 7, column 13, across to the left
UKULELE: row 5, column 3, across to the right
VIOLA: row 2, column 7, across to the left
XYLOPHONE: row 14, column 14, diagonally up and to the left

About this musical instruments word search

Instrument names are among the first music words children meet, and the list organizes itself into the families of an orchestra. In the default puzzle, violin, cello and harp are strings, flute, clarinet and saxophone are woodwinds, trumpet is brass, drums are percussion, and piano and guitar are instruments that many children learn at home.

The easy puzzle uses eight short, distinctive names: bell, tuba, oboe, gong, banjo, organ, fife and lyre. These are good for young players and for children who are beginning to sort instruments by how they make sound. The challenge puzzle adds the full-length names of 16 more, including accordion, xylophone, harmonica, tambourine and bassoon, and fun ones such as bagpipes and castanets.

For a music lesson, ask students to sort the words by family, or to say how each instrument makes its sound: by blowing, plucking, bowing, striking or pressing keys. For a concert or school show, make a puzzle from the instruments in the program using the generator, and print it as a program activity.

Word notes

Violin: a small string instrument played with a bow.
Cello: a large string instrument played seated, held between the knees.
Harp: a large instrument with strings that are plucked.
Clarinet: a woodwind with a single reed and a straight tube.
Saxophone: a metal woodwind with a reed, invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s.
Trumpet: a brass instrument played by buzzing the lips into a mouthpiece.
Flute: a woodwind played by blowing across a hole, usually made of metal today.

Vocabulary tip

Instrument families are a good way to learn the words. Strings are plucked or bowed, woodwinds are blown across or through a reed, brass are blown by buzzing the lips, and percussion is struck or shaken.

Difficulty guide

Generator (default list). The 10 words run from 4 letters (harp) to 9 letters (saxophone), 6.0 letters on average and 60 letters in all, which fills about 31% of the default 14 x 14 grid. On the default Medium setting, words can run in five directions. Choose Easy for across, down and diagonal-right only, or Hard to add backwards and upwards.
Easy puzzle. 8 words of 4 to 5 letters in a 10 x 10 grid, with nothing hidden backwards or upwards.
Challenge puzzle. 16 words of 5 to 11 letters in a 15 x 15 grid, with 12 of them hidden backwards or upwards. Several long names in the challenge (xylophone, harmonica, accordion and synthesizer) are unfamiliar to many children, and trombone, triangle and tambourine all begin with the same letter.

Ways to use it

Sort the ten words into strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion and keyboard.
Ask students which instrument they would choose to play and why, using a word from the puzzle.
To use your own list, edit the words in the box at the top of the page and press Generate puzzle, or press New layout, same words for a fresh grid. Print it with Show answers ticked to add a separate answer page.

Which instruments are in the strings family?: In the default puzzle the strings are violin, cello and harp. Guitar is also a string instrument.
Is a saxophone brass or woodwind?: A woodwind. Although it is made of metal, it makes sound with a reed, like a clarinet.
Who invented the saxophone?: Adolphe Sax, a Belgian instrument maker, in the 1840s. The instrument is named after him.
Can I make a puzzle from my school band's instruments?: Yes. Type the instruments, one per line, and press Generate puzzle. Print it with an answer key.