1) Sound is created by vibrations that cause air particles to bump into each other, transmitting sound waves. 2) In wind instruments like flutes, vibrating air makes sound by moving air particles back and forth to create sound waves. In string instruments, pressing and releasing strings at different lengths causes them to vibrate at different frequencies. 3) Sound needs a medium like air, water or other material to travel through as it is transmitted by particles colliding in the medium from one location to another.