Enhance your string musical instrument knowledge with our educational guides and resources. Instrument history, players, composers and compositions.
What is a Double Bass Musical Instrument? The Double Bass (also known as the Upright Bass), is a large floor standing stringed instrument. It has a curved wooden hollow body, a long neck, and four strings that are played either by…
What is an Oud Musical Instrument? The oud is a pear-shaped stringed instrument typically made from wood. With a large hollow body and a short neck without frets, it is widely used in Middle Eastern and North African music. It…
What is a Mandolin Musical Instrument? The mandolin is a tear-shaped stringed musical instrument. It is played by holding it across the body like a small guitar and plucking its strings with a pick. Typically made from wood, it has…
What is a Koto Musical Instrument? The koto is a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument, resembling a long wooden board with strings stretched across it. Players hold the koto horizontally in front of them, resting on stands. It features movable…
What is an Zither Instrument? The zither instrument belongs to the string family. It’s characterized by its flat, elongated body and numerous strings that stretch across its surface. The zither is typically played by positioning it horizontally on a table…
What is a Kora Musical Instrument The Kora is a musical instrument which is a hybrid combination of a harp, guitar and lute. It is made from African hardwood, a calabash gourd and covered in cow skin to make a…
What is a Bouzouki Musical Instrument? The bouzouki is a stringed musical instrument with a distinctive long neck and a hollow pear-shaped body, originating from Greece. It is traditionally played with a plectrum and has a sharp, metallic sound that…
What is a Violin Instrument? The violin is a wooden stringed musical instrument with a slender curved body and four strings which stretch up the neck of a fretless fingerboard. It’s played by drawing a bow across its strings, creating…
What is a Banjo Musical Instrument : Fast Facts A banjo is a stringed musical instrument with a distinctive round body and a long neck. It features a drum-like membrane stretched over a frame, producing a unique twangy sound. Banjos…
What is a Cello Instrument? The cello is a large bodied stringed wooden instrument with long neck and a pointed metal endpin which allows it to be played standing on the floor. Played by drawing a bow across four strings,…
