violin
pro: really agile instrument capable of large leaps and scale runs
con: open e string
viola
pro: gooood tone quality
con: alto clef
cello
pro: has a deep lower register and a very emotionally intense upper register
con: the players always fucling rush
double bass
pro: super important for helping the orchestra sound full
con: have fun carrying that thing everywhere
flute
pro: can play really fast melodic lines
con: piccolo
clarinet
pro: comes in many sizes, including bass and piccolo clarinet
con: comes in many sizes, including bass and piccolo clarinet
oboe
con: oboe
bassoon
pro: has a very distinct sound and is important in orchestral textures
con: it is a giant toot pipe
trumpet
pro: is the highest-pitched of the brass instruments and has a triumphant sound
con: is a transposing instrument (which goes for a lot of the spit instruments)
trombone
pro: slidey slide
con: I literally know nothing about trombone
tuba
pro: doot do doot do doot do dodododoot do doot
con: it weighs like half a person
piano
pro: works wonderfully as a solo instrument
con: works wonderfully as a solo instrument but composers refuse to believe that performers don’t have more than ten fingers
harp
pro: just listen to it
con: pedals
percussion
pro: provides rhythm and sound effects that the orchestra could not have without it
con: sitting within two feet of the bass drum and the cymbals
guitars
pro: work nicely as solo instruments and for providing chords
con: those people who learn four chords or one bass line and suddenly think they’re god. also for acoustics: dropping your pick into your instrument