Instruments

accordion

a musical instrument that you hold in both hands to produce sounds. You press the two ends together and pull them apart and press buttons and/or keys to produce the different notes

bagpipes

a musical instrument played especially in Scotland. The player blows air into a bag held under the arm and then slowly forces the air out through pipes to produce a noise.

balalaika

a musical instrument like a guitar with a body shaped like a triangle and two, three, or four strings, popular especially in Russia

banjo

a musical instrument like a guitar, with a long neck, a round body and four or more strings

barrel organ

a musical instrument that is played by turning a handle, usually played in the streets for money

bassoon

a musical instrument of the woodwind group. It is shaped like a large wooden tube with a double reed that you blow into, and produces notes with a low sound.

bow

a long thin piece of wood with thin string stretched along it, used for playing musical instruments such as the violin

brass

the musical instruments made of metal, such as trumpets or French horns, that form a band or section of an orchestra; the people who play them

bugle

a musical instrument like a small trumpet, used in the army for giving signals

castanets

a musical instrument that consists of two small round pieces of wood that you hold in the hand and hit together with the fingers to make a noise. Castanets are used especially by Spanish dancers.

celesta

a small musical instrument with a keyboard, that produces a sound like bells

cello

a musical instrument with strings, shaped like a large violin. The player sits down and holds the cello between his or her knees.

clarinet

a musical instrument of the woodwind group. It is shaped like a pipe and has a reed and a mouthpiece at the top that you blow into.

clavichord

an early type of musical instrument, like a piano with a very soft tone

concertina

a musical instrument like a small accordion, that you hold in both hands. You press the ends together and pull them apart to produce sounds.

conga

(also conga drum) a tall narrow drum that you play with your hands

cor anglais

a musical instrument of the woodwind group, like an oboe but larger and playing lower notes

cornet

a brass musical instrument like a small trumpet

cymbal

a musical instrument in the form of a round metal plate. It is hit with a stick, or two cymbals are hit against each other.

didgeridoo

an Australian musical instrument consisting of a long wooden tube which you blow through to produce a variety of deep sounds

double bass

the largest musical instrument in the violin family, that plays very low notes

drum

a musical instrument made of a hollow round frame with plastic or skin stretched tightly across one or both ends. You play it by hitting it with sticks or with your hands.

drumstick

a stick used for playing a drum

euphonium

a large brass musical instrument like a tuba

flugelhorn

a brass musical instrument like a small trumpet

flute

a musical instrument of the woodwind group, shaped like a thin pipe. The player holds it sideways and blows across a hole at one end.

french horn

a brass musical instrument that consists of a long tube curled around in a circle with a wide opening at the end

glockenspiel

a musical instrument made of a row of metal bars of different lengths, that you hit with two small hammers

guitar

a musical instrument that usually has six strings, that you play with your fingers or with a plectrum

harmonica

a small musical instrument that you hold near your mouth and play by blowing or sucking air through it

harp

a large musical instrument with strings stretched on a vertical frame, played with the fingers

harpsichord

an early type of musical instrument similar to a piano, but with strings that are plucked (= pulled), not hit

horn

a simple musical instrument that consists of a curved metal tube that you blow into

saxhorn

a brass musical instrument, used mainly in brass bands

saxophone

a metal musical instrument that you blow into, used especially in jazz

soundbox

the hollow part of a musical instrument that has strings, for example a guitar or violin

stringed instrument

any musical instrument with strings that you play with your fingers or with a bow

tambourine

a musical instrument that has a round wooden frame, sometimes covered with plastic or skin, with metal discs around the edge. To play it you shake it or hit it with your hand.

triangle

a simple musical instrument that consists of a long piece of metal bent into the shape of a triangle, that you hit with another piece of metal

trombone

a large brass musical instrument that you blow into, with a sliding tube used to change the note

trumpet

a brass musical instrument made of a curved metal tube that you blow into, with three valves for changing the note

tuba

a large brass musical instrument that you play by blowing, and that produces low notes

tubular bells

a musical instrument which sounds like a set of bells, consisting of a row of hanging metal tubes that are hit with a stick

vibraphone

a musical instrument used especially in jazz, that has two rows of metal bars that you hit, and a motor that makes them vibrate

viola

a musical instrument with strings, that you hold under your chin and play with a bow2 (3). A viola is larger than a violin and plays lower notes.

violin

a musical instrument with strings, that you hold under your chin and play with a bow

wind instrument

any musical instrument that you play by blowing

woodwind

the group of musical instruments in an orchestra that are mostly made of wood or metal and are played by blowing. Flutes, clarinets and bassoons are all woodwind instruments.

xylophone

a musical instrument made of two rows of wooden bars of different lengths that you hit with two small sticks

hurdy-gurdy

a small musical instrument that is played by turning a handle with one hand and pressing keys with the other

keyboard

1 the set of black and white keys on a piano or other musical instrument 2 an electronic musical instrument that has keys like a piano and can be made to play in different styles or to sound like different instruments

lute

an early type of musical instrument with strings, played like a guitar

lyre

an ancient musical instrument with strings fastened in a frame shaped like a U. It was played with the fingers.

mandolin

a musical instrument with metal strings (usually eight) arranged in pairs, and a curved back, played with a plectrum

marimba

a musical instrument like a xylophone

melodica

a musical instrument that has a keyboard and a part that you blow into

mouthpiece

the part of a musical instrument that you place between your lips

musical saw

a musical instrument consisting of a saw that bends to produce different notes and is usually played with a bow

oboe

a musical instrument of the woodwind group. It is shaped like a pipe and has a double reed at the top that you blow into.

ocarina

a small egg-shaped musical instrument that you blow into, with holes for the fingers

organ

a large musical instrument with keys like a piano. Sounds are produced by air forced through pipes. 2 a musical instrument similar to a pipe organ, but without pipes

piano

a large musical instrument played by pressing the black and white keys on the keyboard. The sound is produced by small hammers hitting the metal strings inside the piano.

piccolo

a musical instrument of the woodwind group, like a small flute that plays high notes

pipe

a musical instrument in the shape of a tube, played by blowing

plectrum

a small piece of metal, plastic, etc. used for plucking the strings of a guitar or similar instrument