String instruments may be played with or without a bow.

These instruments produce sound when

strummed, plucked, struck or slapped. Under the Sachs-Hornbostel system, these instruments are
classified as chordophones.
1. Banjo
A banjo is a stringed instrument that is played using different techniques such as the Scruggs-style or
the "clawhammer". It also comes in different types and some manufacturers even experimented on
other forms by blending the banjo with another instrument.
2. Cello
The cello is essentially a large violin but its body is thicker. It is played the same way as the violin, by
rubbing the bow across the strings. But if you can play the violin standing up, the cello is played
sitting down while holding it between your legs.
3. Double Bass
This instrument is like a huge cello and is played the same way, by rubbing the bow across the
strings. Another way of playing it is by plucking or striking the strings. The double bass may be played
while standing up or sitting down.
4. Guitar
The origin of guitars may have dated back to 1900-1800 B.C. in Babylonia. Archaeologists found a
clay plaque showing nude figures holding musical instruments, some of which resembled the guitar.
5. Harp
The harp is one of the oldest musical instruments; archaeologists discovered a wall painting in Ancient
Egyptian tombs which resembled that of a harp and dates back to 3000 BC.
6. Lute
The lute is another musical instrument popularly used during the Medieval Period and still very much
enjoyed to this day. The lute is quite a beautiful instrument, both aesthetically and tonally. Composers
such as Bach and Dowland used this instrument in their compositions.
7. Mandolin
The mandolin is a plucked string instrument believed to have evolved from the lute and emerged
during the 18th century. It has a pear-shaped body and 4 pairs of strings. The mandolin is another
musical instrument that belongs to the string family. One of the most popular brand of mandolins is
the Gibson, named after the luthier Orville Gibson.
8. Ukulele
The ukulele is one of Hawaii's most popular musical instruments. It became more widely used during
the 20th century and popularized by musicians such as Eddie Karnae and Jake Shimabukuro. The
ukulele is like a small guitar but its tone is much lighter.
9. Viola
The viola may look like a violin but it certainly has its own unique tone. It is tuned a fifth lower than
the violin and functions as the tenor instrument in a string ensemble. Violas didn't enjoy immediate
prominence when it first emerged. But thanks to great composers such as Mozart. Strauss and Bartk,
the viola has become an integral part of every string ensemble.
10. Violin
The violin is believed to have evolved from the Rebec and the Lira da braccio. In Europe, the earliest
four stringed violin was used in the first part of the century.
11. Zither
These instruments can be bowed, plucked or struck with wooden mallets. The earliest types of zithers
were called "ground zithers" before it evolved into "board zithers." Zithers have no necks; its strings
are stretched from one end of the board to the other.

Name of Instrument:
Banjo
Family:
String
How to Play:
Banjos can be played in several ways:
By using a pick, the musician uses it to strum or pluck the strings. This is often used by Irish and jazz musicians.
Scruggs-style, also known as three-fingered picking style. Picks are placed on the index, middle and small finger often used
in country, bluegrass, Irish and folk music.
The frailing style, also known as "clawhammer". The musician uses the nail of his middle finger and index finger. It's a
playing technique especially used in the 1800's.
Types:
There are 2 main types:
5-stringed banjos - Usually tuned to open chords and used in Irish and American music. As the name implies, it has 5
strings, 4 of these are used to play the melody.
Tenor banjo - Smaller than the 5-string banjo, it has 4 strings and used to play the jazz section.
Other banjos were also created like the piccolo banjo, guitar banjo and banjo ukulele. Some of these types are rarely used and
usually a mix of two instruments. The banjolin, for example, is a combination of a banjo and a mandolin.
First Known Banjos:
The banjo originated from Africa and in the 19th century was brought into America by slaves. In its earliest form it had four gut
strings.
Banjo Players:
Some notable banjo players are: Eddie Peabody, Perry Bechtel, Elmer Snowden, Harry Reser, Earl Scruggs, Bla Fleck, Ralph
Stanley and Pete Seeger.









Cello owned by Dr. Reinhard Voss which he loaned to the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Photo taken on November 29, 2004.
Sandra Teddy/Getty Images
Name of Instrument:
Cello or Violoncello; during the 18th century composers showcased the cello's lower register (i.e. baritone), but also used its
higher registers later on.
Family:
String
How to Play:
The musician, or cellist, sits down while holding the instrument between his legs supported by a metal spike. The cellist rubs the
bow across the string to produce sound. Common playing techniques used in string instruments include double stop, harmonics,
mute, pizzicato, tremolo and vibrato.
Types:
Cellos come in a variety of sizes to suit the age, height or body length of a player. read this article to help you find the right size
of cello for you or your child.
First known Cellos:
The first known maker of cellos was Andrea Amati of Cremona during the 1500s. Amati apprenticed as a lute maker and in 1525,
he became a master instrument maker.
Cellists:
Some of the notable cellists are Pablo Casals, Yo-Yo Ma, Gregor Piatigorsky and Mstislav Rostropovich, to name a few.
Name of Instrument:
Double Bass also known as bass, acoustic bass, bass violin, string bass, contrabass, upright bass,
stand-up bass and doghouse bass.
Family:
String
How to Play:
The musician, or double-bassist, may either play it while seated or standing. When standing, the bass
is supported by the left leg while the left hand moves up and down the fingerboard. When seated, the
bass is supported by the musician's right thigh and pelvis and by the use of an endpin on the floor.
The double-bass is played by using a bow across the strings (especially in symphonic music), striking
or plucking (especially in jazz) the strings. Common playing techniques used in string instruments
include double stop, harmonics, mute, pizzicato, tremolo and vibrato. Read this article to learn more
about double bass playing techniques.
Types:
The double bass is the largest and has the lowest range in a symphony orchestra's string section. It
comes in a variety of sizes to suit the age of the player. There is also an electric upright bass. Read
this article about the different sizes of double bass.
First known Double Bass:
In 1493, there was mention about "viols as big as myself" by Prospero, and in 1516 there was an
illustration closely resembling that of a double bass.
Double Bassists:
Some known double bassists are Tarus Mateen, Domenico Dragonetti, Giovanni Bottesini, Roy Huskey
Jr., Edgar Meyer and Scott LaFaro, to name a few.
Name:
Guitar
Family:
String
How to Play:
Guitars are played by strumming, plucking or striking the strings.
Types:
Guitars generally has three types: acoustic, bass and electric guitars. They come in all sorts of shapes
and sizes to fit the needs of a musician.
First Known Guitars:
The origin of guitars may have dated back to 1900-1800 B.C. in Babylonia. Archaeologists found a
clay plaque showing nude figures holding musical instruments, some of which resembled the guitar.
Notable Guitarists:
Some notable guitarists include: Derek Trucks, B.B. King, Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan.

Name:
Harp
Family:
Plucked string instrument
How to Play:
Harps are played by strumming or plucking the strings while seated.
Types:
Concert grand harps has 47 strings and a range of 6 octaves. There are various types of harps:

Pedal Harp - Also known as the classical harp, has 7 pedals at the base.

Lever Harp - Also known as the folk harp, are non-pedal harps.
There are also Celtic, Irish, Wire-strung, Double strung and lap harps.
First Known Harp:
The harp is one of the oldest musical instruments; archaeologists discovered a wall painting in Ancient
Egyptian tombs which resembled that of a harp and dates back to 3000 BC.
Harp Players:
One of the well known harp players today is Sylvia Woods.

Name of Instrument:
Lute
Family:
String
How to Play:
In its early form, the lute was played with a pick. Later on, in the 15th century, it was played by
striking the strings with the fingers. A lutist holds the instrument much like a guitar, the fingers of the
left hand covers the fretted fingerboard and the fingers of the right hand (except the pinky finger)
struck or plucks the strings.
Types:
The lute is shaped like a pear, it has a fretted fingerboard, a short neck, a soundhole carved with a
rose pattern and strings that varied in numbers until the 16th century when it achieved its classic form
(having 6 courses of strings). A distinct feature of the early lute is the pegbox which was angled back.
During the 18th century the lute was overtaken by interest on the keyboard, but many composers still
preferred the lute. During the 20th century interest on the lute was revived. Based on the Sachs-
Hornbostel System, the lute is a chordophone, thus instruments like the sitar of India is considered a lute.
First Known Lutes:
It is believed to have emerged during the 14th century. The lute was especially popular during the
16th to 17th centuries. The 'ud or oud, which originated from the Middle East and used in Islamic
music, is an early type of lute. It was brought to Spain by the Moors and interest on the instrument
spread throughout Europe.
Composers Who Used Lutes:
Notable composers who used lutes in their compositions include John Dowland, Johann Sebastian Bach and
Luis Miln.

Name of Instrument:
Mandolin
Family:
String
How to Play:
In its early form, the mandolin was played by plucking the strings using a plectrum or a solid object.
Today, the mandolin is played similarly and somewhat like the guitar, by using a pick to strum or
pluck the strings. The mandolin is mainly used in folk and bluegrass music. Musicians pluck the strings
in a rapid up and down motion, a technique which is known as tremolo
Types:
Mandolins may be characterized in various types, either based on size, shape or tone. Generally,
mandolins have 3 common types:
Italian mandolin - The traditional form of the mandolin and is used primarily to play the melody.
A-Style Flat Back - It is bigger than the traditional mandolin and has a richer sound. The Gibson mandolin invented by
Orville Gibson is a perfect example of this type.
F-Style Flat Back - Derived from the A-style, this mandolin has f-holes much like the ones on a violin.
First Known Mandolins:
The mandolin is a plucked string instrument believed to have evolved from the lute and emerged
during the 18th century. The mandolin has a pear-shaped body and 4 pairs of strings.
Mandolin Players:
There are many well-known mandolin players, among them are: Samuel Siegel, Willian Place, Jr.,
Silvio Ranieri;, Hugo D'Alton, Dave Appollon and David "Dawg" Grisman. Bill Monroe is known as the
"Father of Bluegrass", Tiny Moore popularized the use of mandolin in jazz and swing music and Jethro
Burns is also one of the most famous jazz mandolin players.

Name of Instrument:
Ukulele or ukelele
Family:
String
How to Play:
The ukulele is played similarly to a guitar, by strumming. It is commonly tuned in the middle C octave
and is popularly used in jazz ensembles, bluegrass and even as a solo instrument.
Types:
The ukulele has different types according to its' pitch: soprano, tenor and baritone. There are also
concert model ukuleles which is tuned to the key of C. A taro patch is a ukulele that has 8 strings
and a tiple is like a ukulele that has 10 strings.
First Known Ukuleles:
The word ukulele is Hawaiian for "leaping flea". It's like a small guitar that is a descendant of the
machete or machada. The machada was brought into Hawaii by the Portuguese during the 1870's. It
has four strings that is under 24 inches long.
Ukulele Players:
Some well-known ukulele players are: Ernest Kaai, "King" Benny Nawahi, Jesse Kaleihia Andre Kalima,
George Formby, Arthur Godfrey, Eddie Karnae, Roy Smeck and Jake Shimabukuro.

Name of Instrument:
Viola
Family:
String
How to Play:
The viola is held and played much like the violin. The musician places the bottom end of the viola in
between his chin and shoulder then uses a bow to produce sound. Common playing techniques used in
string instruments include double stop, harmonics, mute, pizzicato, tremolo and vibrato. Great
composers such as Haydn, Mozart, Strauss and Berlioz, wrote parts for the viola. A good example is in Don
Quixote where the viola is used to play the part of Sancho Panza.
Types:
The viola belongs to the violin family of instruments and is tuned a fifth lower than the violin. The
viola is the tenor voice in a string ensemble. Its' tone is darker than that of the violin and it is longer
than the violin by about 2 inches.
First Known Violas:
The first violas are believed to have been made in the 15th century and evolved from the viola de
braccio (Italian for "arm viol"). During the 18th century, the viola was used to play the part of the
cello. Although not a solo instrument, the viola is an important member of a string ensemble.
Viola Players:
Notable violists include Nokuthula Ngwenyama, Walter Trampler, Lionel Tertis and William
Primrose. Paganini played the viola occasionally. Other famous composers such
as Schoenbergand Bartk also wrote parts for the viola.

Name:
Violin; usually used as a solo instrument. When used in an orchestra, it is divided into first violins
(plays the melody) and second violins.
Family:
String
How to Play:
By rubbing the bow across the strings, the musician changes the tone color and dynamics of the
sound. By pressing the string/s on the fingerboard, the musician changes the pitch of the sound.
Common playing techniques used in string instruments include double stop, harmonics, mute,
pizzicato, tremolo and vibrato. Violins can be played while seated or standing.
Types:
The violin is the smallest and has the highest range in a symphony orchestra's string section. Violins
may be classified according to type (i.e. acoustic or electric), size, period or era and country of origin.
Visit this page for more information on the various types of violins.
First known Violin:
The violin is believed to have evolved from the Rebec and the Lira da braccio. In Europe, the earliest
four-stringed violin was used in the first part of the century.
Name of Instrument:
Zither
Family:
String
How to Play:
The player places the zither across his knees or on top of a table. The strings are plucked by a
plectrum worn by the player on the right thumb. The right hand also plays the accompaniment while
the left hand plays the melody.
History of Zithers:
Instruments that have strings and soundboards of the same length are generally called zithers. These
instruments can be bowed, plucked or struck with wooden mallets. It may be long, such as the koto of
Japan, or flat. Flat zithers have several subcategories such as box zithers that can either be bowed or
plucked. The yangqin of China is an example of a struck zither.
Zither Varieties:
The earliest types of zithers were called "ground zithers" before it evolved into "board zithers." Other
varieties of zithers emerged such as the Salzburg zither that has one rounded side and the Mittenwald
zither that has 2 rounded sides. These types of zithers developed during the 18th century.