Music plays a central role in all cultures of the world. Even the first companies found ways to manufacture instruments.
In fact, the oldest musical instrument ever found is 60,000 years old and is known as the Neanderthal flute! It was discovered in a cave in Slovenia and is made from bear bones.
Since then, instruments have come a long way and different regions of the world have developed unique musical traditions.
One of the first things many of us think of when imagining different areas around the world is what the music sounds like there.
And what gives countries such distinctive musical tones and harmonies? It's about more than songwriting and songwriting styles.
A big part of what makes local musical traditions so special is their unique instruments. And many of us don't even know half of the instruments used worldwide!
How many musical instruments can you name? Ten or twenty?
If you're looking to expand your knowledge of musical instruments, check out this comprehensive overview of instruments used around the world through the ages (and learn how to refer to them in one sentence).
Also, if you want to download A to Z Musical Instruments List PDF, there is a download link at the bottom of this post.
Musical instruments in alphabetical order (from A to Z)
- accordion
- guitar
- Windharfe
- Agogo bells
- Alto clarinet
- alto flute
- alto saxophone, anvil
- two Appalachian dulcimer
- arquilute
- Guitarra Archtop
- classroom
- Autoharp
- Aztekische Todespfeife
- bagpipes
- Banjo
- bass clarinet
- Drums
- Low
- bassoon
- lyre of sin
- Berimbau
- Bongo-Trommel
- bouzouki
- Cornetim
- bull rower
- Byzantine lira
- chestnuts
- heavenly
- Cello
- Chapman-Stick
- charango
- bells
- chinese lute
- Kirchenorgel
- clapping drumsticks
- clarinet
- Clavicórdio
- Clavinete
- accordion
- Conga drum
- English horn
- Horn
- Russell
- Crash-Hackbrett
- Crotales
- four
- Prato
- Darbuka
- Didgeridoo
- piano digital
- Djembe
- Geb
- double bass
- Battery
- Hackbrett
- guitar
- electric piano
- electronic battery
- English horn
- Erhu
- Euphonius
- violin
- Fingerplatten
- Flügelhorn
- flute
- Waldhorn
- Ruck
- gamelan
- Ghatam
- chime
- Gong
- Gopichand
- grand piano
- Large highland bagpipes
- guitar
- hammered dulcimer
- Handpan
- Harmonica,
- harp
- clove
- Highland bagpipes
- Stand
- Indian harmonium
- Irish bouzouki
- irish flute
- irish harp
- Maultrommel
- Krug
- Kalimba
- smart
- keyboard
- Kora
- Koto
- must be horn
- Guitarra Lap-Steel
- Lute
- Lira
- Mandolin
- maracas
- Marimba
- Stahl
- Melofone
- Mellotron
- Srirangam
- Nagara
- No
- key harp
- Oboe
- Oktobass
- Ondes Martenot
- Orchesterglocken
- Organ
- Oud
- Tambourine
- Pan float
- Steel guitar pedal
- Piano
- I play the flute
- organ
- Pipa
- Simple song
- Quena
- Very difficult
- Regenstock
- Recorder
- mandatory
- Resonator Guitar
- Riq
- trombone
- Samba whistle
- Sanxiano
- saxophone
- Shakuhachi
- be ashamed
- shehnai
- zither
- sliding whistle
- Crate
- Soprano Saxophone
- Sousaphone
- steel drum
- Acoustic guitar with steel strings
- Pfanne
- double bass
- Synthesizer
- Tabla
- apply dark
- Tambora
- Tambourine
- Tenorsaxophon
- Theremin
- eardrums
- eardrums
- Tin Whistle
- Diskant, Tuba
- turntable
- cavaquinho
- double bass
- Veena
- Vibraphone
- Alt
- Viola
- Viola
- violin
- Virgin
- Waldzither
- washboard
- water phone
- pipe
- wind chime
- Holzblock
- Xaphoon
- Xylophone
- Yangqin
- If
- Beat
- zither
Musical instruments beginning with A
Accordion, Guitar, Aeolian Harp, Agogo Bells, Alto Clarinet, Alto Flute, Alto Saxophone, Anvil, Appalachian Dulcimer, Archlude, Archtop Guitar, Aulos, Auto Harp, Aztec Death Whistle.
Some of the more interesting musical instruments beginning with "A" are the accordion, autoharp, and Appalachian dulcimer.
The accordion is a box-shaped, bellows-driven instrument commonly used in European and American folk music.
Accordionists use these "squeeze boxes" by playing the melody with the buttons on the right side and squeezing and expanding the collapsible bellows in the center of the instrument.
The autoharp is an integral part of North American folk music.
Also known as the chord zither, the instrument was first patented by Charles F. Zimmerman, a German immigrant living in Philadelphia.
The instrument consists of a rectangular top with one corner cut off. The strings are connected to chord bars that resemble a miniature piano.
The Appalachian dulcimer looks like a long, skinny guitar. This sitar instrument usually has four strings and is native to the Appalachian Mountains.
The first known dulcimers were bred by Irish and Scottish newcomers to the United States in the 18th century.ºCentury.
One of the most famous dulcimer players was Loraine Wyman, pictured with her instrument in the May 1917 issue of US Vogue.
Example: How to use "accordion" in a sentence
The musician played upbeat music on his accordion, filling the room with the instrument's rich, melodious sound.
Example: How to use "autoharp" in a sentence
She gently plucked the harp, creating a gentle, relaxing melody that filled the room with a peaceful atmosphere.
Example: How to use "Appalachian dulcimer" in a sentence
She held the long spruce Appalachian dulcimer in her lap and plucked the strings with a plectrum.
Musical instruments beginning with B
Bagpipes, banjo, bass clarinet, bass drum, bass guitar, bassoon, chime lyre, berimbau, bongo, bouzouki, cornet, bullroarer, byzantine lyre.
Some of the most intriguing instruments beginning with the letter "B" are the bagpipes, bass guitar, and bullroarer.
Most of us associate Scotland with bagpipes, which consist of an airbag, a tune whistle (singer) and several drones.
But they are also used in parts of Asia and the Persian Gulf. Historians believe that the bagpipes were invented around 1000 BC. in Anatolia.
Bass is a staple of the rock genre. This low frequency instrument needs an amplifier to make its bass sounds audible.
Bullroarers are traditional musical instruments used by Australian Aborigines.
Used in ritual ceremonies and for long-distance communication between groups, these pieces of wood were strung on strings and spun rapidly to produce a loud buzzing sound.
Example: How to use "bagpipe" in a sentence
The piper blew on the bagpipes and a sad, squeaky sound came from the humming of the instrument.
Example: How to use "bass guitar" in a sentence
When the young man in the denim jacket played his bass, the crowd went wild.
Example: How to use "bullroarer" in a sentence
The man twisted the Bullroarer's rope and the airfoil accelerated until it aerodynamically rotated in a wide circle over his head, making a rumbling noise.
Musical instruments beginning with C
Castanets, Celesta, Cello, Chapman Stick, Charango, Glockenspiel, Chinese Lute, Church Organ, Clap Sticks, Clarinet, Clavichord, Clavinet, Accordion, Conga Drum,English horn, cornet, cowbell, crash cymbal, ear tags, four, cymbal.
What are the most exciting instruments that start with the letter "C"? Cello, cowbell and glockenspiel are certainly strong contenders.
A musical instrument is a device manufactured or adapted to produce musical sounds.
That's such a broad definition that it's sometimes difficult to remember what all these different devices have in common.
A look at the variety of instruments beginning with "C" is a great example of this.
A cello, for example, is a classic stringed instrument made by master craftsmen.
A professional cello typically costs over $10,000. A rattle (a bell-shaped metal instrument played with a mallet) can cost as little as $10.
Then there are wind chimes, which are usually hung from balconies and played by the wind... which begs the question: does an instrument have to be played by one?Personbe an instrument?
Example: How to use "chimes" in a sentence
Bells jingled in the morning breeze outside her window.
Example: How to use "cello" in a sentence
He pursed his lips as he drew the bow across the cello strings.
Example: How to use "cowbell" in a sentence
She hit the rattle with her mallet and it made a gong-like sound.
Musical instruments starting with D
Darbuka, didgeridoo, digital piano, djembe, duplo, double bass, drums, dulcimer.
Some of the most fascinating musical instruments that start with "D" that you've probably never heard of are the darbuka, digestoo, and duplo.
Ödarbukait is a unique Middle Eastern drum.
This iconic percussion instrument dates back to ancient Egyptian and Sumerian times. Darbukas are easily recognized by their classic goblet shape.
The didgeridoo is a wooden instrument that has been played by members of the Australian Aboriginal community for over 40,000 years.
Didgeridoos are made from hollow fallen eucalyptus branches and produce a booming sound.
Dobro is an American brand of resonator guitars. Known as "Dobros," these vintage-style six-strings are wooden cones with a single cone resonator.
Dobro is now owned by Gibson, known for making top-notch country guitars.
Example: How to use "darbuka" in a sentence
The drummer placed the darbuka on his lap and began tapping lightly on the edge.
Example: How to use "digeridoo" in a sentence
The older man blew sadly into the mouthpiece of his digestidoo, from which a deep, monotonous melody sounded.
Example: How to use "dobro" in a sentence
The man in the cowboy hat slung the strap of his outro over his shoulder and began strumming his steel guitar.
Musical instruments beginning with E
Electric guitar, electric piano, drum machine, cor anglais, erhu, euphonium.
Looking for unique instruments that start with "E"? Look no further. Let's learn about electronic drums, erhu and euphonium!
Electronic drum kits are an alternative to traditional acoustic drum kits.
This includes an electronic sound module that produces drum sounds and synthesized symbols.
Drummers hit the so-called "pads" with their sticks and electronic sensors cause the module to play the desired sounds.
Erhus are beautiful Chinese bow instruments.
These Proto-Mongolian instruments have only two strings and are often played in small orchestras.
They have a violin-like appearance and date back to the Tang Dynasty.
Euphoniums are piston-valve wind instruments that emit a sweet, melodic sound not dissimilar to a French horn.
Example: How to use "e-drums" in a sentence
The teenager plugged in his drum machine and started hitting his pads.
Example: How to use "erhu" in a sentence
The erhu player who played it gently drew his bow across the two strings of his instrument.
Example: How to use "euphonium" in a sentence
The brass solo rang out in the soft tones of a euphonium.
Musical instruments beginning with F
Violin, finger cymbal, flugelhorn, flute, french horn, fujara
Some of the most difficult instruments to play that start with "F" include the flute, flugelhorn, and fujara.
The flute is a brass instrument with a curved mouthpiece and padded keys.
You have to use the angle of your mouth and the power of your breath to keep it in tune. Fun fact: flute players are calledPfeifer!
The flugelhorn looks a lot like a trumpet. In fact, many people unfamiliar with the metal family can confuse the two!
However, the flugelhorn is actually more of a bugle, the instrument traditionally used in hunting.
The fujara is a woodwind instrument with roots in the pastoral population of central Slovakia.
It varies between 5 and 7 feet in length and has three holes that players use to create different sounds.
Example: How to use "flute" in a sentence
The flautist put her flute to her mouth and began her solo.
Example: How to use "flugelhorn" in a sentence
The soft, deep note of the flugelhorn rang out across the valley from the old man's balcony.
Example: How to use "Fujara" in a sentence
The shepherd blew into the mouth of his wooden fujara to call the animals back to be milked.
Musical instruments beginning with G
Gamelan, Ghatam, Glockenspiel, Gong, Gopichand, Cauda Piano, Highland Bagpipes, Guitar.
Of all the instruments beginning with the letter "G", three stand out as emblems of traditional culture.
These are Ghatam, Gong and Gopichand.
The ghatam is an Indian percussion instrument resembling a large clay vessel, sometimes decorated with copper or brass.
It has its origins in Tamil andPunjabi-Kulturen, and its name comes from the Sanskrit wordGhataka, meaning pot.
A gong is a percussion instrument that originated in Southeast and East Asia.
The gongs look like flat, round metal discs and are struck with mallets or padded sticks.
They have sacred meaning and are often used in religious temples or monasteries.
A gopichand is a one-stringed Indian instrument.
The string is held between a pot-shaped base and a pin, which is raised and held by two parallel pieces of wood. The string can be tuned to different pitches.
Example: How to use "ghatam" in a sentence
When the ghatam was not used to transport fresh yoghurt, it was used in the center of the village.
Example: How to use "gong" in a sentence
The monk banged the gong three times.
Example: How to use "gopichand" in a sentence
The street musician strummed his gopic hand while singing.
Musical instruments beginning with H
Hammered psaltery, hand whistles, harmonica, harp, harpsichord, highland bagpipes.
The easiest to play instruments that start with the letter "H" are probably the handpan and the harmonica.
The handpan essentially consists of two rounded metal halves that have been clamped together.
On the surface of the handpan are seven different tones or "tone fields" that can be played to create different sounds and played in different combinations to create melodies.
It's a relatively recent invention, only appearing in 2007. It's a variation on the steel pan, an older and more established percussion instrument.
If you're interested in steel instruments, check out the oldest relative of the handpan.
The harmonica is a staple of American folk rock, but it originated in Asia thousands of years ago.
Her younger ancestor, the German "harp" (world organ) only appeared in the 19th century.
Example: How to use "handpan" in a sentence
He drummed on the handpan in front of him and it echoed softly through the hallway.
Example: How to use "harmonica" in a sentence
She pursed her lips and blew on the silver harmonica, which made an artificial hum.
Musical instruments starting with I
Igil, Indian Harmonium, Irish Bouzouki, Irish Flute, Irish Harp.
If you're looking for a little Gaelic musical influence, look no further than musical instruments beginning with 'I'.
Instruments beginning with the word "Irish" include the Irish bouzouki, Irish flute and Irish harp.
The Irish bouzouki is a variation of the Greek bouzouki.
This six-string wooden instrument, which looks something between a guitar and a banjo, was brought to Isla Verde in the mid-1920s.ºCentury.
The Irish flute has been on Irish soil for much longer.
This wooden flute has none of the filigree silver keys of the classic flute.
Gaelic chiefs had harpers they could summon to play for them at will. Irish harpists were so valuable that Brehon Act imposed severe penalties on anyone who damaged the musicians' fingers or fingernails.
Example: How to use "Irish bouzouki" in a sentence
The escort played the strings of their Irish bouzouki.
Example: How to use "irish flute" in a sentence
As she raised the Irish flute to her lips and began to play a soft tune, the room fell silent.
Example: How to use "irish harp" in a sentence
She played the strings of her Irish harp and sang a mystical song.
Musical instruments beginning with J
Maultrommel, Krug.
Surprisingly, there aren't many instruments that start with the letter "J". But that doesn't mean we should discard those who do!
Jew's harp and mug play fantastic melodies and are worth writing about.
The jaw harp is an unusual looking musical device that originated in Siberia.
It consists of a pear-shaped metal frame the size of a human tongue.
The frame holds a reed in place, which vibrates when the player places the instrument between their teeth and strikes the reed.
The jug is literally just that: a jug. Players play the glass by holding it directly under their mouth and "humming" their lips to create a lively sound. Pitchers appeared in the United States in the 1920s.
Example: How to use "jew's harp" in a sentence
He drew the harp from the jaw he held tight between his teeth.
Example: How to use "jug" in a sentence
The happy, happy tones of the pitcher vibrated through the dance floor.
Musical instruments beginning with K
Kalimba, Kaval, Teclado, Kora, Koto, Chifre de Kudu.
Some of the most amazing instruments beginning with "K" are kalimba, kaval and kudu horn.
The kalimba is a miniature thumb piano that originated in Africa. There are versions with 19 and 15 keys.
Essentially, kalimbas look like wooden boxes with a hole in the middle.
Above the hole are a series of metal switches that musicians press with their thumbs.
The kaval is a wind end flute, meaning that unlike the Irish flute and the classical flute, it is held vertically rather than horizontally.
It traditionally comes from the Balkan region, where it was played by shepherds.
The kudu horn is an instrument made from the horn of the African kudu.
The kudu is a beautiful animal with white stripes like a zebra, curled horns like a ram, and a bristly back like a hyena.
Example: How to use "kalimba" in a sentence
The man at the bar strummed a kalimba that sounded like a music box.
Example: How to use "kaval" in a sentence
He blew on his kaval and the children gathered to hear him play.
Example: how to use "kudu horn" in a sentence
Soccer fans blew their kudu horns in support of the home team.
Musical instruments beginning with L
Lap steel string acoustic guitar, lute, lyre.
Can you think of some of the best country musical instruments that start with "L"? You can't go wrong with the lap steelstring guitar, lute and lyre.
The lap steel string guitar has a somewhat misleading name.
While it's certainly a guitar, it's not the kind you hold and strum. Instead, this steel-string wonder is placed on the musicians' laps, where they pluck it with a plectrum.
The lute is a plucked string instrument with a long neck and a deep, rounded back.
This curve creates a large space for the acoustic sounds of the instrument's strings to reverberate.
Many people consider the lyre to be the original folk instrument.
Its curved wooden frame spanning learned strings was popular in ancient Greece. The lyre was already 2700 BC. played in Mesopotamia.
Example: How to use "Lap Steel String Acoustic Guitar" in a sentence
The bluegrass musician picked up his steel-string guitar and strummed it to great applause.
Example: How to use "lute" in a sentence
The singer accompanied herself on a traditional broad-backed lute.
Example: How to use "lira" in a sentence
She looked like a Greek goddess as she held the lyre across her body and strummed a tune.
MMusical instruments beginning with M
Bandolim, Maracas, Marimba, Mbira, Mellophon, Mellotron, Mridangam.
Do you have a favorite instrument that begins with the letter "M"? If not, you must at least consider your choice of mandolin, marimba and mridangam.
The mandolin is a close relative of the lute. This round-bodied stringed instrument is a bluegrass icon.
It has four courses with double strings and is played with a standard pick.
The marimba is technically a percussion instrument, but don't be fooled into thinking it's small or doesn't require much skill to play.
This traditional Bantu instrument looks like a large wooden xylophone and is played with sticks.
The mridangam is considered a sacred instrument in India and deities are often shown holding this ancient percussion instrument, which looks like a hollow wooden cylinder. Modern mridangams are carved from jackfruit wood.
Example: How to use "mandolim" in a sentence
The folk singer put her mandolin strap over her shoulder and began to play.
Example: How to use "marimba" in a sentence
As he brought his mallets to the wooden bars of his marimba, a gentle and beautiful melody rose in the air.
Example: How to use "mridangam" in a sentence
He drummed on the side of his mrindangam, creating a catchy rhythm.
Musical instruments beginning with N
Nagara, Ney, Harpa Chave.
I bet you've never come across these three exciting instruments that start with the letter "N".
Have you heard of Nagara, Ney or Nyckelharpa? If not yet, then you are in!
The nagara is a Middle Eastern round-top drum played on formal occasions and traditional festivals.
The ney is a flute of Persian origin that is at least 5,000 years old.
Similar to a tape recorder, it is a wooden tube with holes cut in its body.
The nyckelharpa is a keyboard violin. It looks like a violin with a set of keys sticking out on the right side.
The earliest depiction of this versatile folk instrument was found on Gotland, Sweden, and dates from 1350.
Example: How to use "nagara" in a sentence
The circle of drummers played their nagaras and the rhythmic beat could be heard for miles.
Example: How to use "ney" in a sentence
Her ney's sweet melody was enough to put anyone to sleep.
Example: How to use "nyckelharpa" in a sentence
With one hand he drew the bow over the strings of his nyckelharpa while the fingers of the other hand played a melody.
Musical instruments beginning with O
Oboe, Octobaß, Ondes Martenot, Orchesterglocken, Organ.
Do you know which classical instruments start with the letter "O"?
There is no shortage of them, but some of the most well known are the oboe, octobass and organ.
The oboe is a reed woodwind instrument with a black body and an intricate system of silver keys.
It is placed in front of the player like a tape recorder. Oboe players must make their own reeds, which they change frequently.
Have you ever seen a double bass? Well, an octobass is very similar to it, except it's much larger.
Octo basses are upright stringed instruments that can be up to 12 feet tall.
Organs are played with a keyboard. Unlike pianos, however, their keys are attached to split tubes that project their sound far. In addition to church organs, there are also pump, electronic and mechanical organs.
Example: How to use "oboe" in a sentence
She pursed her lips around her oboe pick and began to play.
Example: How to use "octobass" in a sentence
The girl strumming the octobass looked tiny next to her large instrument.
Example: How to use "organ" in a sentence
The organist began to play a dirge, his fingers dancing over the organ keys.
Musical instruments beginning with P
Tambourine, pan flute, pedal steel guitar, piano, piccolo, pipe organ, pipa, chorale.
Some of the more specific musical instruments you've never heard of begin with the letter "P".
These include tambourine, pipa and chorale.
The pandeiro is a Brazilian hand-framed drum that looks like a tambourine.
Not only can you tap the edges lightly to create a rhythm, you can shake it so that the silver bells on its side tremble and create a screeching metallic sound.
The pipa is a pear-shaped Chinese stringed instrument that originated around 2,000 years ago.
Not dissimilar to the European lute, it has four strings and a long neck.
Plainchant is not technically an instrument.
However, modern music theorists treat it as one in all respects.
Plainsong is a set of Latin chants used by members of the Western Catholic Church.
Example: How to use "pandeiro" in a sentence
She swung the tambourine at the salsa party and all the dancers danced.
Example: How to use "pipa" in a sentence
As the musician strummed the strings of his kite, the hall fell silent.
Example: How to use "flat song" in a sentence
They sang the song flat in unison.
Musical instruments beginning with Q
Quena.
Ah, "Q." It's one of the least common letters in Scrabble, and for good reason. And that's because there just aren't that many words that start with Q.
And it's no different with musical instrument names.
However, there is an intriguing instrument called the quena that begins with the letter "Q" and is definitely worth learning.
The quena is a flute native to the Andes.from South America.
It only has six finger holes, less than a modern recorder.
Quena is made from hollow cane or wood.
Unlike the recorder, its end is just an open hole that must be pressed into the player's chin, just below the lower lip, to block the flow of air.
Then the musician can blow through a U-shaped hole cut in the open end of the quena.
Example: How to use "quena" in a sentence
The saint pressed the quena to her chin and blew through the opening, exhaling a light but woody hue.
Musical instruments beginning with R
Rabab, rainstick, recorder, exquisite guitar, resonator guitar, riq.
There are a variety of musical instruments that begin with "R".
Some of the more unusual instruments beginning with "R" are rabab, requinto, and riq.
The rabab is not very different from a lute. It has been used in Asia and the Middle East for centuries, and each country or region has its own variety.
Therefore, it is important to consider what type of Rabab you are looking for when deciding to invest in one.
The exquisite guitar is essentially a smaller version of a standard guitar.
It has a slightly higher pitch than its classic counterpart.
It features in much Ecuadorian music, but is also commonly used in Mexico and other Central and South American countries.
The riq is a Middle Eastern tambourine with 10 pairs of jingles.
It is often adorned with beautiful engravings between its five double jingle jingle stacks.
Example: How to use "rabab" in a sentence
The artist strummed his Rabab and began to sing.
Example: As "exquisite" in a sentence
The mariachi band played exquisite guitars.
Example: Like "riq" in a sentence
He rattled his riq.
Musical instruments beginning with S
Sackbut, Samba Whistle, Sanxian, Saxophone, Shakuhachi, Shamisen, Shehnai, Sitar, Slide Whistle, Snare Drum, Soprano Saxophone, Sousaphone, Steel Drum, Steel Guitar, Steel Pan, String Bass, Bowed String, Synthesizer.
Few people know this, but "S" is the letter that most words in the English language begin with.
A staggering 10.6% of English words start with "S". And instrument names are no exception.
Some of the more interesting "S" instruments are the sackbut, sousaphone, and shakuhachi.
The sackbut is an old-fashioned version of the trombone.
It dates from the Baroque music period and is smaller than its modern counterpart.
The sousaphone is an impressive wind instrument with a large horn that stretches over the player's shoulder.
Used in brass bands, it was designed by John Philip Sousa as an easier-to-walk variant of the tuba.
The shakuhachi is a traditional Japanese wooden flute made from bamboo.
Coming from the 16thºCentury and was originally used during Zen meditation sessions.
Example: How to use "sackbutt" in a sentence
He brought the sacbutin's mouthpiece to his lips and pressed the bumper.
Example: How to use "sousaphone" in a sentence
The sousaphonist marched more than two miles, keeping up with the rest of the band.
Example: How to use "Shakuhachi" in a sentence
As soon as the meditation started, the monk started playing the shakuhachi.
Musical instruments beginning with T
Taiko drum, tambora, tambourine, tenor saxophone, theremin, timpani, kettledrum, whistle, trumpet, tuba, record player.
There are instruments from all over the world that start with the letter "T". Three instruments that start with "T" and have great facts about them are the taiko drum, the theremin, and the whistle.
The first record of a taiko drum in Japan dates back to the 6th centuryºCentury.
A fun fact about the taiko drum is that it was used in the 16th centuryºWarring States period of the 20th century. Drumming sequences were used to communicate messages between troops.
The theremin is an electronic instrument. A curiosity about this device, invented in 1928, is that it can be played without touch.
The player simply moves their hands in front of the antennas and the device responds by making various sounds.
Looking for a fun fact about the Tin Whistle?
There are music historians who believe that the oldest related whistle dates back to 80,000 BC. can be dated!
Example: How to use "taiko drum" in a sentence
The soldier banged the taiko drum five times to signal that the troops needed reinforcements.
Example: How to use "theremin" in a sentence
As she waved her hands in front of the antennas, the theremin let out a tiny, synthesized tune.
Example: How to use "tin whistle" in a sentence
The traditional Irish band began their set by playing tin whistles.
Musical instruments beginning with U
Ukulele, Kontrabass.
Want to know something fun about instruments that start with the letter "U"?
The two most popular instruments that begin with "U", the ukulele and double bass, are considered to be the smallest and largest stringed instruments in existence, respectively.
The ukulele is like a tiny four-string guitar. This instrument is often associated with Hawaii (it means "jumping flea" in Hawaiian), but it was probably brought there by Portuguese visitors in the late 19th century.ºCentury.
The double bass, also known as the contrabass, is a classic stringed instrument that makes up the bulk of symphony orchestras.
Example: How to use "ukulele" in a sentence
NOKiki, the fearless ukulele player played a song while thehalloDancers in grass skirts swayed back and forth.
Example: How to use "double bass" in a sentence
The musician strummed the strings of her double bass, which was positioned at the back of the orchestra.
Musical instruments with V
Vibraphon, Veena, Vielle, Viola, Estupro, Violine, Virginal.
“V” stands for variety, right? Well, there's certainly no shortage of string instruments that start with "V".
Some of the most popular instruments beginning with "V" are viola, viola, and violin.
The viola looks like a larger version of the violin. It is considered the alto of stringed instruments.
The viola is a hollow-bodied stringed instrument. Violas look very similar to members of the violin family, but have a flat back and C-holes instead of F-holes.
They also have more strings than violins: violas have between five and seven, while members of the violin family have four.
The fiddle is a wooden stringed instrument that plays a key role in western classical music.
It typically has four strings and is the backbone of the modern symphony orchestra, which consists of two violin sections.
Example: How to use "viola" in a sentence
After the first and second violins had played the first three bars, the viola entered.
Example: How to use "Viol" in a sentence
At first she thought the viola was a violin, but when she saw the six strings she realized her mistake.
Example: How to use "violin" in a sentence
Playing the violin requires a good feeling for intonation and nimble fingers.
Musical instruments with W:
Forest zither, washboard, water telephone, whistle, wind chime, log.
Can you think of instruments with unusual names that start with "W"? Well, here are three: the washboard, the water phone, and the log.
The washboard is literally a washboard. For example, people play French-style washboards, which have ribbed metal lines like percussion instruments.
The ridges that people used to use to remove dirt from their clothing are now used to create bumps.
The waterphone (or ocean harp) is an acoustic instrument consisting of a bowl of water and a series of brass rods extending from the rim of the bowl. It is played with hands or with a sledgehammer.
The block of wood is also literally what it sounds like.
These rectangular wooden instruments are hollow and emit a resonant sound when struck with a hammer.
Example: How to use "washboard" in a sentence
She ran the hammer up and down the washboard to the beat of the music.
Example: How to use "waterphone" in a sentence
He touched the edge of the waterphone and created a reverberating melody.
Example: How to use "chunk of wood" in a sentence
As the boy tapped his block of wood in a steady rhythm, his classmates began to dance.
Musical instruments with X:
Haffon, Telephone.
When it comes to instruments beginning with “X”, we always think of xylophone.
However, it is not the only one. Another fascinating instrument that starts with "X" is the Xapoon.
A xylophone is a percussion instrument with wooden or metal bars that is played when a musician hits the bars with mallets.
A xylophone can be anything baby metalbellsto a full orchestral and chromatic percussion instrument costing around $30,000.
A Xaphoon is essentially a clarinet with a single reed. Also known as Hawaiian saxophones, these instruments are traditionally made out of bamboo and look like recorders.
Brian Wittman, the creator of the Xaphoon, still makes these instruments at his home in Maui.
Example: How to use "xylophone" in a sentence
The xylophonist began her performance by gently tapping her instrument's smallest wooden stick with her mallet.
Example: How to use "xaphoon" in a sentence
The man picked up his xafoon and pursed his lips around his pickaxe.
Musical instruments with Y:
Yangqin
There's only one instrument that's really worth mentioning that starts with "Y" and that's the yangqin.
This incredible device can only be played by an experienced and trained musician.
This dulcimer has the shape of a trapezium and steel alloy strings.
Modern instruments can have up to five bridges. Yanqin musicians use rubber-tipped bamboo mallets to pluck the strings of their instruments.
Yangqin originated in China, but variations of it are used throughout Asia and the Middle East today.
Example: How to use "yanqin" in a sentence
The yangqin player took his bamboo mallets and began gently tapping the bridged set of strings.
Musical instruments with Z:
Zampogna, Zarb, Citara.
Do you know which are the most beautiful instruments that start with the letter "Z"?
Let's start with a look at Zampogna, Zarb and Zither.
The Zampogna is an Italian style of bagpipes. It features two singers (usually a soprano and a bass) and is still used by folk bands across the country.
The zarb, often referred to as a tombak, is a goblet drum originating in Iran.
It is considered the most important percussion instrument in the region and its unique sound is an integral part of traditional Persian music.
The zither is a flattened wooden stringed instrument.
The sitar is played lying down. Musicians pluck or pluck their strings, which are passed through a hole in the wood.
Sitars sound somewhere between guitar and harpsichord.
Example: How to use "zampogna" in a sentence
The Italian folk musician played a melancholic, squeaky melody on his Zampogna.
Example: How to use "zarb" in a sentence
Persian music is characterized by the beat of the zarb.
Example: How to use "zither" in a sentence
She sat down on her knee with the zither and began to strum a tune.
types of musical instruments
There are five main types of musical instruments: drums, woodwinds, brass, keyboards, and strings.
Many musical collectives include several of these different types of instruments.
For example, an orchestra includes all categories except keyboards (and occasionally brass), while a marching band includes woodwinds, brass, and percussion.
In linguistics, one can often use similar words to describe instruments played in the same musical family.
For example, you play the flute, clarinet or saxophone; press the keys of a keyboard instrument; and bow, strum, or strum stringed instruments.
Instruments of one type also tend to be composed of similar components.
For example, all stringed instruments have strings and tuning keys, and many have bridges and are played with bows. Brass instruments, on the other hand, usually have mouthpieces or reeds and holes for fingers or keys, or a combination of both.
For a detailed overview of each musical instrument type and a list of the most popular instruments in that category, read on!
percussion instruments
- bells
- Teller
- Battery
- Gongs
- eardrums
- Xylophone
Basically, percussion instruments are anything that makes noise when struck, rubbed, scratched, or shaken.
Drummers are usually responsible for creating the beat or background noise for the instruments playing the melody.
However, there are exceptions to this rule: Think xylophone!
The percussion family is responsible for the rhythm of the song and for added flair.
All orchestras have percussion sections, and the instruments included depend on the piece the orchestra is playing.
However, there is usually always a set of timpani (large kettle-shaped drums), cymbals, and a xylophone.
In most popular songs, the main drummer is the drummer. Think of all the legendary rock 'n' roll drummers who are masters of modern drumming!
wind instruments
- bassoon
- clarinet
- flute
- Oboe
- Recorder
- saxophone
If you're wondering why brass instruments are called woodwinds when they clearly aren't all made of wood, you're not alone!
The reason woodwinds get their name is because they were all traditionally made out of wood.
However, as the materials available to artisans have increased, many of these instruments are now also made of metal and plastic.
What wind instruments have in common is that they have cylindrical shapes, an opening for the mouth and bottom of the instrument, and holes along their body.
They are played by musicians who use their breath (or wind) to blow air into the cylinder, creating a sound.
There are two main differences between most types of wind instruments.
The first has to do with the style of the mouthpiece. Wind instruments have either an open mouthpiece or a reed mouthpiece.
For example, recorders and flutes have open mouthpieces, while bassoons and oboes use reeds.
The second difference has to do with whether the instrument buttons are covered or not.
The recorders have holes along their bodies covered by the players' fingers.
However, most classical woodwinds have keys that are pressed against their holes to close them, or a combination of keys and holes.
wind instruments
- Baritonhorn
- Horn
- Euphonius
- Flügelhorn
- Waldhorn
- Horn
- Melofone
- Sousaphone
- Tenorhorn
- trombone
- Trumpet
- Tuba
The brass family includes a wide range of horn-like instruments, ending in bell-shaped ends.
This category of instruments is called the "Brass" family because they are all made of brass. Makes sense right?
You can think of brass instruments as long horns that have been bent into various shapes to make them easier to play.
There are two main types of brass instruments: valved brass and sliding brass.
Valve instruments have valves that look like buttons that are pressed to produce different notes.
Sliding instruments like the trombone are played by pushing and pulling a sliding element that changes pitch by changing the tube length.
Like brass, brass players must use their own breath to play their instrument.
Brass instruments have a curved metal mouthpiece that is played by pressing it with pursed lips, producing a buzzing sound.
This vibration penetrates the instrument and creates that telltale trumpet sound.
keyboard instruments
- clove
- Organ
- Piano
The best-known keyboard instrument is of course the piano. But the piano isn't the only instrument worth learning.
The organ and harpsichord are also valuable keyboard instruments to get to know.
Keyboard instruments are characterized by a series of levers that players press with their fingers.
These levers are called keys, and because they are arranged in a straight line on a board, the instruments to which they belong are called keyboards.
Pianos, harpsichords, and organs have keys that correspond to notes in the chromatic scale.
One of the main advantages of keyboard instruments over all other categories is that you can play more than one note at a time.
This allows pianists and organ players to play chords and melodies at the same time.
A keyboard is basically the only musical instrument that can harmonize with itself!
Here is a list of the most common types of keyboard instruments:
string instruments
- double bass
- Cello
- guitar
- Erhu
- violin
- guitar
- harp
- Kora
- Lute
- Mandolin
- Oud
- zither
- be ashamed
- Acoustic guitar with steel strings
- Viola
- violin
Bowed instruments include any instrument that has strings.
String family instruments are generally made of wood that has been shaped into a specific shape and is hollow.
The wooden body of a stringed instrument often has holes cut into it.
In these holes the ropes were tightened.
The strings are held in place by tuning pegs, or keys, which can be turned to adjust the tension of the string, thereby changing its pitch.
Some stringed instruments, typically those belonging to the western classical tradition, have bridges that raise the strings above the body of the instrument.
Bows made of fine hair, which are pulled and pushed over the strings, are also usually taught with these instruments.
Other stringed instruments such as guitars, sitars, and lutes are played by strumming or strumming and do not have bridges.
The string family forms the largest part of a symphony orchestra, which includes violins, violas, cellos, and double bass.
List of musical instruments from A to Z Download (PDF)
If you want to download a list of the most popular instruments from A to Z, here it is:
Marcel Iseli
Hey linguists! it's me marcelo I am the proud owner of linguaholic.com. Languages have always been my passion and I studied linguistics, computational linguistics and sinology at the University of Zurich. It is my great pleasure to share with you all what I know about languages and linguistics in general.
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