Which group of instruments includes the oboe?

The oboe is classified as part of the wind instruments group because it produces sound through the vibration of air primarily in a cylindrical tube. Specifically, the oboe is a double-reed instrument, meaning it uses two reeds that vibrate together to create sound, placing it firmly within the woodwind family of instruments. This classification encompasses all instruments that produce sound by the movement of air, including both single-reed instruments, like the clarinet, and double-reed instruments like the oboe and bassoon.

In contrast, brass instruments produce sound through the vibration of the player’s lips in a mouthpiece, string instruments utilize vibrating strings to create sound, and percussion instruments generate sound through being struck, shaken, or scraped. Each of these groups has distinct mechanisms for sound production, which underscores why the oboe is accurately categorized as a wind instrument.