Picture Vocabulary

Discover Musical Instruments Names in English That Amaze

Playing with the tool is an interesting way to entertain yourself. However, we should also know about the tools that are used to create sound and music. Each name of the instrument tells a different story behind it. In this article, you will learn about these musical instruments and their uses.To explore more, check out the Key Components of a Computer in English.

Musical Instruments Names in English

Discover the world of musical instruments, from timeless classics like the guitar and piano to unique sounds of the sitar and theremin. Explore their fascinating stories, uses, and cultural significance. Dive into the melody of innovation and tradition!
What is a musical Instrument?

A musical instrument is a device or object designed to produce sound, often used to create music. These instruments generate vibrations, creating sound waves that we can hear.
Musical instruments come in various types, including string, wind, percussion, and electronic, each offering unique sounds and tones. They are used for artistic expression, cultural traditions, and entertainment, bringing people together through the universal language of music.

Where are these used? 

Musical instruments are used in various settings like concerts, schools, and religious ceremonies for entertainment, education, and cultural rituals. They play a key role in creating music for movies, events, and celebrations. Instruments also serve therapeutic purposes in music therapy sessions.

Types of Musical Instrument

These are classified based on their manufacturing or the sound they produce, so here is the classification.

  • String Instruments -Produce sound through vibrating strings (e.g., guitar, violin).
  • Wind Instruments – Create sound by air vibration (e.g., flute, clarinet).
  • Percussion Instruments – Sound is made by striking or shaking (e.g., drums, tambourine).
  • Brass Instruments – Use lips vibrating against a mouthpiece (e.g., trumpet, trombone).
  • Keyboard Instruments – Played by pressing keys (e.g., piano, organ).
  • Electronic Instruments – Use electronic signals to produce sound (e.g., synthesizer, electric guitar).

Brass Instruments

These are made up of metal or brass. They have a powerful tone and resonance. They played at music events and in an orchestra.

Trumpet
Trumpet

Buzzing lips play it and uses a series of valves to produce sound; it has a flared belt.


Tuba
Tuba

It is a large instrument that has minimal pitch. It is used in events and brass brands.

Trombone
Trombone

It has a slide so the length may change while playing a tool.

French Horn
French Horn

It has a long coiled tube with a wide belt and a hand that uses valves to change the pitch.

Euphonium
Euphonium

It belongs to the tube family and has a warm and strong sound. The outer shape is conical.

Bugle
Bugle

This instrument has no valves and is used at special ceremonies and events.

Sousaphone
Sousaphone

It is best for marching bands and has a large bell made of brass or fibreglass.

Cornet
Cornet

It is a more compact and soothing sound than the trumpet and is used at musical concerts.

Mellophone

Mellophone

It creates sound for outdoor settings. It has three pistons and is used by drum corps..

Brass Instruments
Brass Instruments


Woodwind Instruments

They produce sound or music when air is blown through them.They are used in various music settings, such as chamber music or bands.

Flute
Flute

It produces sound by blowing air through a hole without using a reed. The sound is clear and bright.

Recorder
Recorder

It has a mouthpiece whistle that creates the sound, and holes are created along the length of the tool. Children use them to learn music.

Clarinet
Clarinet

It is a cylinder-shaped instrument with only one reed and various keys used to produce sound. A military band plays it.

Oboe
Oboe

It creates sound by blowing air through the mouthpiece, and it has a double reed attached to the mouthpiece.It has a different sound.

Cor anglais
Cor anglais

It also used a double reed, but the pitch is high.

Basson
Basson

It is a long instrument with a low pitch and a curved metal tube connecting the reed.

Saxophone
Saxophone

It creates a soulful voice  . The tube is conical, but the reed is single.It is used in pop and rock music.

Bagpipes
Bagpipes

It has four parts, such as a bag, blowpipe, chanter, and drones, which create sound. These sounds are used for storytelling.

Shakuhachi
Shakuhachi

It has a beautiful sound with five finger holes. It is the symbol of nature.

Pan Flute
Pan Flute

These are also known as pan pipes of varying lengths. The one end of the pipe is closed and produces a specific tone.

Bansuri
Bansuri

It is a bamboo flute that creates a deep sound.

Woodwind Instruments
Woodwind Instruments


String Instruments

These are simple instruments that produce music by vibrating strings. They are used in many cultures and make sounds by blowing or plucking strings.

Plucked strings

Guitar
Guitar

It is a popular instrument with six strings, which are plucked to create a sound. The body is flat or curved, and it is played at events.

Harp
Harp

It is triangular in shape and is played with the help of fingers, and the strings are stretched in a way that makes a frame. It is used in folk music.

Mandolin
Mandolin

It is a small instrument that belongs to the lute family. It contains eight strings that are used to play music. The music may be classical or bluegrass, but it is played with the help of a pick.

Ukulele
Ukulele

It is similar to a guitar, which has four strings and originated from Hawaii. The tone is very cheerful and mellow.

Banjo
Banjo

The body is drum-like but has a long neck, which is commonly used in country sites.  

Sitar
Sitar

It is made up of teak wood and dried gourd. It produces a resonant sound.

Lute
Lute 

It is round and made up of thin wood stripes that belong to ancient times.

Oud
Oud

It is a pear-shaped instrument with various strings, but the neck is short and fretless.

Zither
Zither

The surface is flat, but the strings are attached from one end to the other and are used in various musical traditions.

Guzheng
Guzheng

It is a Chinese instrument with 21 to 26 strings, all made of silk.

Koto
Koto   

It is made of wood with 13 strings and an ethereal sound.  

Balalaika
Balalaika

It is triangular with three strings, but the body is made of.

Bowed strings

Violin
Violin

It is a famous musical instrument with four strings. When played with the bow, the sound produced is bright and resonant.

Viola
Viola

It is large compared to the violin, but the sound produced is warmer.

Cello
Cello

It is smaller than a double bass but played with a bow and used in chamber music.

Double bass
Euphonium

It is the most prominent instrument people use, but its pitch is low, and it has four strings.

Erhu
Erhu

It is made of wood, but its shape is hexagonal or cylindrical. The strings are made of steel or silk.

Sarangi
Sarangi

It is made of tun wood and is played with the help of a bow.

Robab
Robab

It is mainly used in Afghanistan. It has a rich sound and has two to three drone strings.

Struck strings

Dulcimer
Dulcimer

It has a special place in the Irish era. It is played by plucking and creates a gentle tone.

Cimbalom
Cimbalom

It is made of wood and is rectangular in shape; the hammer is used to play this tool.

Piano
Piano

It is rectangular with one keyboard and is played with the help of a hammer.

Harpsichord
Harpsichord

It is the modern form of piano, but the strings are plucked.

Pipa
Pipa

It is just like a pear made of wood, famous in China.

Bouzouki
Bouzouki

It has a long neck and a pear-shaped body and is made of wood.

Percussion Instruments

Due to their dynamic qualities, they are called the backbone of the instruments, and they produce music by shaking.

Unpitched percussion

Drum Kit
Drum Kit

It is the set of all the drums played by sticks or hands, and they are used in pop, rock, or jazz music.

Bongos
Bongos

It contains two drums, which are played with hands. The set of two drums creates low- and high-pitched sounds.

Conga
Conga

It is a tall instrument with a narrow bottom. It originated from Cuba and Afro, but the drum is single. It produces an intense tone.

Djembe
Djembe

It is most common in the West of Africa, and its bottom is narrow. It has special cultural significance due to its tonal range,

Tambourine
Tambourine

It contains a small wooden drum with attached metal jingles and produces sound when shaken with a hand.

Castanets
Castanets

They are made up of hardwood. The shape of these nuts is hollow and shell-like, and when they strike together, they make a strong sound.

Claves
Claves

They are also made of wood. These are just like sticks and are used worldwide.

Pitched Percussion

Marimba
Marimba

It is also made of wood with different bars, and tubes are attached to the bars.

Timpani
Timpani

These are also called kettle drums, and these are used in marching bands. They are famous in Persia.

Gong
Gong

It is usually made of brass, and its shape is circular or concave.

Bell
Bell

It is mostly made of metal or glass and produces sound by shaking. The bell’s shape is hollow, but its base is flat.

Chimes
Chimes

They are made up of many hanging tubes that produce music when they strike together. They are used for specific events.

Hang Drum
Hang Drum

They are made of metal, and two drums are connected together and produce a resonant sound when played together.

Percussion Instruments
Percussion Instruments

Keyboard Instruments

These instruments use the keyboard to produce sound and do not use any electricity.

Harmonium
v

These are used by Indians in classical music by blowing air and look

Clavichord
Clavichord

It has small metal blades, and sound is produced when these blades are struck.

Accordion
Accordion

It has several keys and bellows used to make music of different pitches.

Mellotron

It uses magnetic tape loops to produce music only mechanically.

Celesta
Celesta

It produces a unique sound by striking a hammer at metal plates.

Spinet
Spinet

It is smaller due to its compact size and is often used in homes for learning.

Chamberlain
Chamberlain

It is the oldest instrument that is used to produce sound, and that sound is wobbly.

Electronic Instruments

Theremin
Theremin

It uses electromagnetic fields to produce sound with the help of metal antennas.

Ondes Martenot
Ondes Martenot

It is known for its haunting sound, which is produced using a vacuum tube.The volume is controlled by a player.

Electric Guitar
Electric Guitar

It uses electronic amplification to produce sound; the body is solid solid wood.

Electric Bass
Electric Bass

It is a vital instrument and is played in modern music.

Experimental Instruments

They use new ways to make sound, and these are used to challenge traditional notions of music.

Didgeridoo
Didgeridoo

It is made up of Eucalyptus tree and bamboo. The shape is slightly conical.

Kazoo
Kazoo

It is often used in comedy, and its shape is a tube with a quick Voice.

Nose flute
Nose flute

It is played with the help of the nose by blowing air through the nose.

Singing Bowl
Singing Bowl

It is made of metal, just like a bell, and has different sizes from small to large.

Glass Harmonica
Glass Harmonica

It contains a set of glass bowls, and the sound is produced due to friction.

Hybrid Instruments

They combine one or two traditional instruments, and in this way, they make unique music.

Keytar
Keytar

It plays like a guitar, but the keys are like a piano, and its weight is light with wrap.

Electric Cello
Electric Cello

It also uses electronic magnification, and it is used to play in a louder environment.

Electric Harp
Electric Harp

It uses nylon or gut strings to play the music and has a unique shape.

Electric Violin
Electric Violin

It has a solid or semi-solid body, and it uses pickups to catch the strings and produce sound.

Frequently Asked Questions About Musical Instruments

What are the five types of Musical Instruments? 

There are five main types of instruments: brass, wind, string, percussion, and keyboard.

What is the most famous Indian Musical Instrument?

Sitar

What are the most popular Musical Instruments in the World?

Guitar, Piano, Flute and Violin are the most popular Instruments.

What are the five new Musical Instruments?

Fingerboard, Seaboard and Reactable are new musical Instruments.

Read More:

Master the Key Parts of a Computer in English Today
Learn Tools Names in English with Pictures

Saim

The author is a highly experienced English language trainer with a strong academic background and a passion for teaching. With over 7 years of global experience, he has worked with students from diverse cultural backgrounds, helping them enhance their language skills. A dedicated professional, he combines his expertise and enthusiasm to deliver effective and engaging lessons to learners worldwide.

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