Instruments Starting with B
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From the traditional Babandir gong from the Philippines to the Byzaanchy fiddle of Tuva, learn more about the instruments of the world.
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Classification Note:
Chordophones produce sound primarily by the vibration of strings. Idiophone generate sound through the vibration of the instrument’s body itself, without the use of strings, membranes, or external air columns. Membranophones produce sound through the vibration of a stretched membrane. Aerophones create sound by vibrating air within the instrument.
Babandir
The Babandir is a small “timekeeper” gong from the Philippines, typically made of metal. It is played by striking the gong with a mallet, providing a steady rhythmic pulse in traditional music ensembles. This instrument is an idiophone and has been used in Filipino music for centuries, particularly in gong ensembles known as kulintang.
Babatoni
The Babatoni is a one-string bass instrument from Malawi, featuring a long wooden stick with a metal string attached to a resonating box or gourd. Musicians play it by plucking the string, producing a deep bass sound. It is a chordophone, and while its exact origins are unclear, it has been used in Malawian folk music for many generations, particularly in rural communities.
Babi
The Babi is a single tree leaf used as a musical instrument by the Hani community of Yunnan, China. It is played by holding the leaf between the lips and blowing, creating a vibrating sound similar to a reed instrument. This unique aerophone is ancient, deeply rooted in the folk traditions of the Hani people, and used in various cultural and ceremonial contexts.
Bachi
The Bachi refers to drumsticks used in Japanese music, often made from wood, plastic, or other materials. These sticks are used to strike drums, particularly in taiko drumming, producing powerful rhythms. Classified as an accessory or implement, bachi are integral to traditional Japanese music, with their use dating back to ancient times, particularly in ceremonial and festival music.
Bada
The Bada is a gourd drum from the Ivory Coast, made from a large gourd with a goatskin stretched over the top and tuned with rope. It is played by striking the drumhead with hands or sticks, producing deep, resonant tones. This membranophone has been part of West African music for centuries, often used in traditional ceremonies and dances.
Bafoko
The Bafoko is a West African calabash drum covered with goatskin, commonly found in regions of West Africa. It is played by striking the skin with hands, producing a rich, resonant sound. As a membranophone, the Bafoko has ancient roots and is used in various traditional West African music genres, especially in community gatherings and rituals.
Bagana
The Bagana is a large plucked lyre from Ethiopia, featuring eight to ten strings and a trapezoidal wooden frame. Musicians play it by plucking the strings with their fingers, producing deep, resonant tones. This chordophone has been used for centuries in Ethiopian religious and cultural music, particularly in Christian Orthodox contexts.
Baglama
The Baglama is a long-necked lute from Turkey, characterized by its pear-shaped body and approximately one meter in length. It is played by plucking the strings with a plectrum or fingers, producing a bright, melodic sound. This chordophone is ancient, with origins in Central Asia, and is widely used in Turkish folk and classical music.
Bagpipe
The Bagpipe is a wind instrument with a bag made from animal skin and multiple pipes, including a blowpipe and chanter, found across various cultures. Musicians play it by inflating the bag and squeezing it to force air through the reeds, producing continuous melodies. This aerophone likely originated in ancient Mesopotamia and has evolved into various forms used in traditional music across Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.
Bai
The Bai are clappers from Ghana, typically made of wood or metal. They are played by striking them together, producing a sharp, percussive sound. This idiophone has been part of Ghanaian music for centuries, often used in traditional dances and ceremonies to keep rhythm.
Bajflöjt
The Bajflöjt is a drone flute from Sweden, usually made from wood. It is played by blowing air through the mouthpiece, creating a continuous drone sound that complements melodies played on other instruments. As an aerophone, the Bajflöjt has been used in Scandinavian folk music for centuries, particularly in rural and traditional settings.
Bajo sexto
The Bajo sexto is a twelve-string guitar from Mexico, featuring a deep body and a long neck. It is played by strumming or plucking the strings, providing both rhythmic and harmonic support in various musical ensembles. This chordophone dates back to the early 20th century and is widely used in traditional Mexican folk and regional music, particularly in norteño and conjunto genres.
Bala
The Bala, also known as the balafon, is a West African xylophone made of wooden bars of varying lengths attached to gourd resonators. It is played by striking the bars with mallets, producing a melodic, resonant sound. As an idiophone, the Bala has ancient origins and is central to the music of the Mande people, used in storytelling and ceremonial music.
Balaban
The Balaban is a short Persian cylindrical oboe, producing a smooth and variable sound. It is played by blowing air through a reed while covering the finger holes to create different pitches. This aerophone has been used in Persian music for centuries, particularly in classical and folk traditions.
Balalaika
The Balalaika is a three-stringed folk lute from Russia, recognized by its triangular body and long neck. It is played by strumming or plucking the strings with the fingers, producing a bright, percussive sound. This chordophone dates back to the 17th century and is widely used in Russian folk music and dance.
Balaman
The Balaman is a short cylindrical oboe from Azerbaijan, similar in sound to the Persian balaban. It is played by blowing into the reed and manipulating the finger holes to produce melodic tones. This aerophone has been part of Azerbaijani music for centuries, commonly used in folk and traditional music genres.
Balo
The Balo, also known as the balafon, is a West African xylophone similar to the Bala, made of wooden bars and gourd resonators. Played with mallets, it produces melodic sounds that vary in pitch depending on the bar struck. This idiophone is ancient and central to the traditional music of the Mande people, used in ceremonial and social music.
Bandola
The Bandola is a teardrop-shaped lute with a flat or concave back, originating from Spain and found in Colombia and Venezuela. It is played by plucking the strings with a plectrum, producing a bright, resonant sound. This chordophone has been part of Spanish and Latin American music for centuries, often used in folk and traditional music genres.
Bandolín
The Bandolín is a small South American Creole lute with a pear-shaped body and a fretted neck, featuring 8 to 15 steel strings. It is played by strumming or plucking the strings, producing a bright, lively sound. This chordophone is common in Latin American folk music, particularly in Andean and Caribbean regions, with roots dating back to Spanish colonial times.
Bandolim
The Bandolim is a 10-string mandolin from Brazil, similar to the European mandolin but adapted for Brazilian music. It is played by plucking the strings with a plectrum, producing a clear, melodic sound. This chordophone has been part of Brazilian music for centuries, particularly in choro and samba genres.
Bandoneón
The Bandoneón is a square-built button accordion used primarily in Argentine and Uruguayan tango music. It is played by pressing the buttons while expanding and compressing the bellows, producing a range of emotive tones. This free-reed aerophone was invented in Germany in the 19th century and became central to the tango genre in the early 20th century.
Bandura
The Bandura is a fretless plucked dulcimer from Ukraine, featuring a short neck and an oval flat body. It is played by plucking the strings with the fingers, producing a soft, melodic sound. This chordophone has been part of Ukrainian folk and classical music for centuries, often associated with national identity and cultural expression.
Bandurria
The Bandurria is a small, 12-string mandolin-type instrument with a wide neck and 14 metal frets, popular in Spain and Spanish-speaking America. It is played with a pick, producing a bright, resonant sound. This chordophone has roots in medieval Spain and is used in folk and traditional music across the Spanish-speaking world.
Bandurria sonora
The Bandurria Sonora is a variation of the bandurria with 6 metal strings instead of the traditional gut strings. It is played similarly with a pick, producing a sharp, clear sound. This modern chordophone is used in contemporary Spanish and Latin American music, offering a different tonal quality from the traditional bandurria.
Bangu
The Bangu is a frame drum from China, struck with bamboo sticks to produce sharp, percussive sounds. It is an essential membranophone in Chinese opera and traditional music, with origins dating back over a thousand years, providing rhythm and dramatic effect in performances.
Banjo
The Banjo is a string instrument developed by African American musicians, featuring a drum-like body with a guitar-type neck. It is played by plucking or strumming the strings, producing a twangy, resonant sound. This chordophone has roots in West African instruments and became popular in American folk, old-time, and bluegrass music in the 19th century.
Banjolele
The Banjolele is a hybrid instrument combining the body of a banjo with the neck of a ukulele. It is played by strumming or plucking the strings, producing a bright, resonant sound. This chordophone was developed in the early 20th century and is commonly used in Hawaiian and folk music.
Banjolin
The Banjolin is a hybrid instrument combining the body of a banjo with the neck of a mandolin. It is played by strumming or plucking the strings, producing a bright, twangy sound. This chordophone originated in the late 19th century and is used in American folk and bluegrass music.
Bansuri
The Bansuri is a bamboo flute from India, Pakistan and the Middle Eastcharacterized by its simple, cylindrical shape and finger holes. It is played by blowing air into one end and covering the holes to produce different notes. This aerophone has ancient roots in Indian classical music, dating back thousands of years, and is also used in folk music.
Bapó
The Bapó is a shaker from Brazil, typically made from a gourd filled with seeds or small stones. It is played by shaking, producing a rhythmic rattling sound. This idiophone has been used in Afro-Brazilian music for centuries, particularly in samba and candomblé traditions.
Bara
The Bara is a West African gourd drum covered with goatskin, producing deep, resonant tones. It is played by striking the drumhead with the hands, often in complex rhythmic patterns. This membranophone is integral to traditional West African music, especially in Mali and surrounding regions, with a history that spans centuries.
Baraban
The Baraban is a bass drum used in Klezmer music, typically made from wood with a skin stretched over both ends. It is played with mallets, producing a deep, resonant sound that provides rhythmic support in musical ensembles. This membranophone has been part of Eastern European Jewish music for centuries, often used in weddings and celebrations.
Barbat
The Barbat is a Persian lute with a short neck and a pear-shaped body, typically featuring four or more strings. It is played by plucking the strings with a plectrum or fingers, producing a warm, resonant sound. This chordophone is ancient, dating back to at least the 1st millennium BCE, and is a precursor to the modern oud, used in Persian classical music.
Barrel drum
The Barrel drum is a large, two-headed drum laid horizontally, found in various cultures worldwide, including India, Korea, and the Caribbean. It is played by striking the drumheads with hands or sticks, producing deep, resonant tones. This membranophone has ancient origins and is used in a wide range of music genres, from traditional and ceremonial music to modern fusion.
Barung
The Barung is a middle-range Javanese gamelan instrument, consisting of metallophone bars suspended over a wooden frame. It is played by striking the bars with mallets, producing melodic tones that are central to gamelan music. This idiophone has been used in Indonesian music for centuries, particularly in court and ceremonial music.
Bassoon
The Bassoon is a double-reed conical wind instrument, featuring a long, curved body made of wood. It is played by blowing air through the double reed while pressing keys to produce a wide range of notes. This aerophone first appeared in European Baroque music in the late 1600s and is a staple in Western classical music, particularly in orchestras.
Batá drums
The Batá drums are a set of three hourglass-shaped drums from Cuba, used in Santería rituals and Cuban jazz. They are played with hands, each drum producing a different pitch, and are integral to religious ceremonies. These membranophones trace their origins to the Yoruba people of West Africa and have been part of Cuban music since the colonial era.
Batar
The Batar is a drum from Somalia, typically made of wood and covered with animal skin. It is played by striking the drumhead with hands, producing a resonant, rhythmic sound. This membranophone has been part of Somali music for centuries, used in traditional and ceremonial contexts.
Barriles de bomba
The Barriles de Bomba are barrel drums from Puerto Rico, made from wood and covered with goatskin. They are played with hands or sticks, producing deep, resonant sounds that are central to Bomba music, a genre with African and Taíno roots. These membranophones have been used in Puerto Rican music for centuries, particularly in dance and celebration.
Bawu
The Bawu is a single-reed transverse flute from China, made of bamboo or wood. It is played by blowing air through the reed and covering the finger holes to produce melodic tones. This aerophone has been part of Chinese traditional folk music for centuries, particularly in the southwestern regions of China.
Bayan
The Bayan is a chromatic accordion with a button keyboard, originating from Russia and Belarus. It is played by pressing the buttons while expanding and compressing the bellows, producing a wide range of tones. This free-reed aerophone became popular in Eastern European folk and classical music in the 19th century.
Bebandil
The Bebandil is a set of three medium-sized, single-bossed brass gongs from Sarawak, Malaysia. They are played by striking with mallets, producing resonant, metallic tones that are central to traditional Bisayah music. This idiophone has been part of Malaysian musical culture for centuries, often used in ceremonial and social music.
Belamentengo
The Belamentengo is the smallest of the Mandinka drums from West Africa. It is played by striking the drumhead with hands, producing high-pitched, rhythmic sounds. This membranophone is integral to Mandinka music, often used in traditional ceremonies and storytelling.
Belengo
The Belengo is the second smallest of the Mandinka drums, slightly larger than the Belamentengo. It is played similarly, with hands striking the drumhead to produce resonant, rhythmic sounds. This membranophone has been part of West African music for centuries, particularly in the Mandinka cultural region.
Bell
A Bell is a metallic instrument shaped like an upside-down wine glass, played by striking with a mallet to produce a clear, resonant tone. Bells are classified as idiophones and have been used in various cultures worldwide for thousands of years, often in religious, ceremonial, and musical contexts.
Bembé
The Bembé is a set of three drums made from hollowed palm tree logs, with skins nailed on and tuned with heat, used in Afro-Cuban music. They are played with hands or sticks, producing deep, resonant tones central to Bembé ceremonies. These membranophones have roots in West African drumming traditions and are integral to Afro-Cuban religious and social music.
Bena
The Bena is a Sardinian cane clarinet from Italy, typically featuring a single reed. It is played by blowing air through the reed and covering the finger holes to produce melodic sounds. This aerophone has been part of Sardinian folk music for centuries, often used in pastoral and ceremonial music.
Bendir
The Bendir is a North African frame drum with snares along the inside of the head, typically made of wood and animal skin. It is played by striking the drumhead with hands, producing a distinctive buzzing sound. This membranophone has ancient origins in North Africa and is widely used in Moroccan and Middle Eastern folk and religious music.
Berda
The Berda is a Croatian fretted bass, typically featuring four strings and a long neck. It is played by plucking the strings, producing deep, resonant bass tones. This chordophone has been part of Croatian folk music for centuries, often used in traditional ensembles.
Berimbau
The Berimbau is a Brazilian musical bow with a gourd resonator, used primarily in capoeira music. It is played by striking the string with a stick while pressing a stone or coin against the string to change the pitch. This chordophone has African origins and has been part of Brazilian culture for centuries, central to capoeira practice.
Bianqing
The Bianqing is a set of stone chimes shaped like scythes, used in traditional Chinese music. They are played by striking the stones with a mallet, producing clear, resonant tones. This ancient idiophone dates back thousands of years and was traditionally used in Confucian rituals and court music.
Bianzhong
The Bianzhong is a set of tuned bronze bells from China, each producing several notes at different intervals. They are played by striking with a mallet, producing melodic and harmonic tones. This idiophone dates back to ancient China, around the 2nd millennium BCE, and was used in ceremonial and court music.
Bilbil
The Bilbil is a Kosovar Albanian ducted flute, featuring a mouthpiece that is usually cut diagonally and stopped with a plug. It is played by blowing air through the mouthpiece, producing soft, melodic tones. This aerophone has been part of Albanian folk music for centuries, often used in pastoral and traditional contexts.
Biłgoraj suka
The Biłgoraj Suka is a traditional string instrument from Poland, resembling a medieval fiddle with a wide neck and a crude pegbox. It is played vertically using a fingernail technique, producing a raw, resonant sound. This chordophone, reconstructed in the 1990s based on historical texts, was a common instrument in medieval Poland, often used in folk and ceremonial music.
Bili
The Bili is an ancient flute from China, typically made of bamboo or wood. It is played by blowing air across the mouthpiece, producing soft, melodic tones. This aerophone dates back thousands of years and was used in Chinese folk and classical music.
Biniou
The Biniou is a Breton instrument similar to a small bagpipe, featuring a seven-holed chanter and a single drone. It is played by inflating the bag and squeezing it to produce a high-pitched, continuous melody. This aerophone has been part of Breton folk music for centuries, often used in traditional dances and ceremonies.
Bin-sasara
The Bin-sasara is a strung clapper from Japan, made of many small wooden slats connected by a string. It is played by flicking the handles back and forth, causing the slats to strike each other and produce a rhythmic, percussive sound. This idiophone has been part of Japanese music for centuries, often used in festivals and folk performances.
Binyege
The Binyege are seed rattles used by the Bunyoro people of Uganda, worn around the lower legs by young male dancers. They produce a rattling sound when the dancers move, adding a rhythmic accompaniment to the dance. This idiophone has been part of Ugandan music for generations, particularly in traditional ceremonies and competitions.
Bin
The Bin is a plucked lute from India, featuring a long neck and a gourd resonator. It is played by plucking the strings with a plectrum, producing a resonant, melodic sound. This chordophone has ancient roots in Indian classical music, particularly in the dhrupad genre.
Birbynė
The Birbynė is a single or double-reeded wind instrument from Lithuania, made from materials like wood, bark, or horn. It is played by blowing air through the reed and covering the holes to produce different pitches. This aerophone has been part of Lithuanian folk music for centuries, used in both pastoral and ceremonial contexts.
Birimbao
The Birimbao is a horseshoe-shaped Jew’s harp from Galicia, Spain, typically made of wood or iron. It is played by placing the instrument against the teeth and plucking the tongue with the fingers, producing a twanging sound. This idiophone has been part of Galician folk music for centuries, often used in traditional and pastoral music.
Bishur
The Bishur is a Mongolian shawm, featuring a conical wooden body and a double reed. It is played by blowing air through the reed while covering the finger holes to produce different pitches. This aerophone has been part of Mongolian music for centuries, often used in traditional and ceremonial music.
Biwa
The Biwa is a Japanese lute with a cranked neck and an oversized plectrum, developed from the Chinese pipa. It is played by plucking the strings with the plectrum, producing a sharp, resonant sound. This chordophone has been part of traditional Japanese music for over a thousand years, particularly in court music and storytelling.
Blekete
The Blekete is a large double-skinned bass drum from Ghana, played with a stick like a talking drum. It produces deep, resonant tones that provide a rhythmic foundation in traditional music. This membranophone has been part of Ghanaian music for centuries, particularly in Ewe drumming ensembles.
Blul
The Blul is a Kurdish shepherd flute made of ebony, featuring a simple cylindrical shape. It is played by blowing air through the mouthpiece, producing soft, melodic tones. This aerophone has been part of Kurdish music for centuries, often used in pastoral and traditional contexts.
Blockflöjt
The Blockflöjt is a Swedish recorder, typically made of wood with a simple cylindrical shape. It is played by blowing air through the mouthpiece and covering the holes to produce different notes. This aerophone has been part of European music for centuries, particularly in folk and classical music.
Blockflöte
The Blockflöte is a German recorder, similar to the Blockflöjt, made of wood or plastic. It is played by blowing air through the mouthpiece and covering the finger holes to produce melodic tones. This aerophone has been part of European music for centuries, widely used in both folk and classical music.
Bo
The Bo is a pair of large Chinese cymbals that are struck together to produce a loud, resonant crash. These idiophones are made of metal and have been used in Chinese music for thousands of years, particularly in traditional opera, rituals, and festive music.
Bobo
The Bobo refers to two types of instruments: a double-reed pipe from China and a pegged drum with antelope skin from Ghana. The pipe is played by blowing air through the reed, producing melodic tones, while the drum is struck with hands to produce deep, resonant sounds. Both instruments have been part of their respective cultures for centuries, used in traditional and ceremonial music.
Bodhran
The Bodhran is an Irish frame drum made from goatskin, typically played with a double-ended beater or tipper. It is held vertically and played by striking the skin with the beater, producing a deep, resonant sound. This membranophone has been part of Irish folk music for centuries, particularly in traditional dance and ceremonial music.
Bolombatto
The Bolombatto is a harp from West Africa, featuring four gut strings stretched over a gourd resonator with an attached tin rattle. It is played by plucking the strings, producing a melodic sound with a rhythmic accompaniment from the rattle. This chordophone has been part of West African music for centuries, often used in storytelling and ceremonial contexts.
Bolon
The Bolon is a harp-shaped musical instrument from Mali, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau, featuring a gourd resonator and a bow-shaped neck with 1 to 4 strings. The gourd can also be used as a drum, adding a percussive element to the music. This chordophone is ancient and was added to UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2021, used in traditional West African music.
Boloye
The Boloye is a one-string bass instrument from the Ivory Coast, featuring a long wooden body with a single string. It is played by plucking the string, producing a deep, resonant bass tone. This chordophone has been part of West African music for centuries, often used in traditional and ceremonial music.
Bols
Bols are rhythmic syllables used in Indian classical music to represent the sounds of drums or other percussion instruments. These syllables are vocalized by the performer to guide the rhythmic pattern in music, acting as an essential element in both teaching and performance. Bols are ancient and have been integral to Indian classical music for thousands of years.
Bombarde
The Bombarde is a small Breton clarinet-like reed instrument with a conical bore, producing a loud, piercing sound. It is played by blowing air through the reed and covering the finger holes to produce different notes. This aerophone has been part of Breton folk music for centuries, often used in traditional dances and ceremonies.
Bombo
The Bombo refers to various large bass drums used in Spain, Spanish America, and Uruguay, typically made of wood with a skin stretched over the frame. It is played with sticks, producing deep, resonant tones that provide the rhythmic foundation in various musical ensembles. These membranophones have been used for centuries in traditional and folk music, particularly in processions and celebrations.
Bongos
The Bongos are a set of two small drums attached by a piece of wood, developed in Cuba’s Oriente province. They are played with the hands, producing high-pitched, rhythmic sounds. These membranophones have been part of Cuban music since the 19th century, particularly in genres like son, salsa, and Afro-Cuban jazz.
Bongó de monte
The Bongó de Monte is a larger set of bongos used in Cuban changüí, featuring tack-heads instead of tunable hardware. They are played with hands, producing lower-pitched, resonant sounds compared to regular bongos. This membranophone is integral to changüí music, a precursor to son and salsa, with roots in rural Cuban music traditions.
Bongyi
The Bongyi is a large Burmese drum, typically made of wood and covered with animal skin. It is played with hands or sticks, producing deep, resonant tones. This membranophone has been part of Burmese music for centuries, often used in traditional ceremonies and performances.
Bonkó echemiyá
The Bonkó Echemiyá is an Afro-Cuban abakuá drum, about a meter tall, used in religious ceremonies. It is played with hands, producing deep, resonant tones that are central to abakuá rituals. This membranophone has roots in West African drumming traditions and has been part of Afro-Cuban culture for centuries.
Bonshe
The Bonshe is a long Burmese drum, typically made from wood and covered with animal skin. It is played with hands or sticks, producing deep, resonant tones. This membranophone has been part of Burmese music for centuries, often used in traditional ceremonies and performances.
Bontoe
The Bontoe is a small Burmese drum, similar to the Bonshe but smaller in size. It is played with hands or sticks, producing higher-pitched, resonant tones. This membranophone has been part of Burmese music for centuries, often used in traditional ceremonies and performances.
Boogh
The Boogh is a ram’s horn trumpet from Iran, typically used in traditional and religious music. It is played by blowing air through the horn, producing a deep, resonant sound. This aerophone has ancient roots in Persian music, often used in pastoral and ceremonial contexts.
Booglin
The Booglin is a shaman Jew’s harp from Mongolia, typically made of wood or metal. It is played by placing the instrument against the teeth and plucking the tongue with the fingers, producing a twanging sound. This idiophone has been part of Mongolian music for centuries, often used in shamanic rituals and traditional music.
Boo-sasara
The Boo-sasara is a long, notched stick from Japan, scraped with a smaller stick to produce a rhythmic, percussive sound. This idiophone has been used in Japanese folk and ceremonial music for centuries, often in festivals and traditional performances.
Botija
The Botija is a ceramic jug from Cuba, originally used to transport Spanish olive oil, later repurposed as a bass instrument in son and changüí music. It is played by blowing air into the jug and covering the holes to produce different pitches. This aerophone has been part of Cuban music since the 19th century, particularly in rural and traditional music genres.
Bouzouki
The Bouzouki is a Greek long-necked lute with 3 or 4 double courses of metal strings, producing a bright, metallic sound. It is played by strumming or plucking the strings with a plectrum. This chordophone has been part of Greek music for centuries, particularly in traditional Greek rebetiko and folk music.
Box
The Box, also known as the squeezebox, is a term for the accordion, a free-reed aerophone with a keyboard and bellows. It is played by pressing the keys or buttons while expanding and compressing the bellows, producing a wide range of tones. This instrument has been popular worldwide since its development in the 19th century, used in various music genres from folk to classical.
Braguinha
The Braguinha is a cavaquinho from Madeira, Portugal, featuring a small, guitar-like body with four strings. It is played by strumming or plucking the strings, producing a bright, lively sound. This chordophone has been part of Portuguese folk music for centuries, particularly in Madeira’s traditional music.
Brekete
The Brekete is a two-headed round bass drum from Ghana, featuring thin goatskin and a thin shell. It is played with sticks, producing deep, resonant tones that are central to traditional Ewe music. This membranophone has been part of Ghanaian music for centuries, often used in ceremonial and social music.
Brelka
The Brelka is a double-reed instrument from Russia, featuring a conical wooden body. It is played by blowing air through the reed and covering the finger holes to produce different pitches. This aerophone has been part of Russian folk music for centuries, often used in traditional and ceremonial contexts.
Bubani
The Bubani is a Kosovar Albanian drum made from a short wooden cylinder covered at each open end with leather. It is played with two wooden drumsticks, producing rhythmic, percussive sounds. This membranophone has been part of Albanian folk music for centuries, often used in traditional ceremonies and festivals.
Budongo
The Budongo is a thumb piano from Uganda, featuring metal tines attached to a wooden board. It is played by plucking the tines with the thumbs, producing a melodic, percussive sound. This idiophone has been part of East African music for centuries, often used in storytelling and social gatherings.
Bugarija
The Bugarija is a stringed instrument from Croatia and Bosnia, featuring circular sound holes and a lengthy neck with typically four strings. It is played by strumming or plucking the strings, producing rhythmic and harmonic support in musical ensembles. This chordophone has been part of Balkan music for centuries, particularly in folk and traditional music.
Buita
The Buita is a percussion instrument from Angola, typically made from wood or metal. It is played by striking the instrument with a stick, producing a sharp, resonant sound. This idiophone has been part of Angolan music for centuries, often used in traditional ceremonies and social music.
Buk
The Buk refers to various types of drums used in traditional music from Korea, China, and Tibet, including barrel drums and suspended drums. They are played by striking the drumheads with hands or sticks, producing deep, resonant tones. These membranophones have been part of East Asian music for centuries, often used in religious, ceremonial, and folk music.
Bukkehorn
The Bukkehorn is a Norwegian ram’s horn, traditionally associated with mountain farms and shepherds. It is played by blowing air through the horn, producing a deep, resonant sound. This aerophone has ancient roots in Norwegian folk music, often used for signaling and in traditional folk tunes.
Bullroarer
The Bullroarer is a piece of horn or wood attached to a string, producing sound when swung in circles overhead. By adjusting the speed and length of the string, different pitches and sounds can be created. This ancient aerophone has been used in various cultures worldwide for thousands of years, often in rituals and communication.
Bumb
The Bumb is a huge drum from the Braj area in Uttar Pradesh, India, typically made from wood and covered with animal skin. It is played by striking the drumhead with hands or sticks, producing deep, resonant tones. This membranophone has been part of Indian music for centuries, often used in traditional ceremonies and festivals.
Bup
The Bup is a large Tibetan cymbal used in Buddhist rituals, typically made of metal. It is played by striking the cymbals together, producing a loud, resonant crash. This idiophone has been part of Tibetan religious music for centuries, often used in ceremonial and meditative practices.
Byat Saung
The Byat Saung is a harp from Myanmar, featuring a curved body with a resonating chamber and strings stretched along the length. It is played by plucking the strings with the fingers, producing a soft, melodic sound. This chordophone has been part of Burmese music for centuries, often used in court and classical music.
Byaw
The Byaw is a drum from Myanmar, typically made of wood and covered with animal skin. It is played by striking the drumhead with hands, producing deep, resonant tones. This membranophone has been part of Burmese music for centuries, often used in traditional ceremonies and performances.
Byoo-daiko
The Byoo-daiko are nailed-head drums from Japan, typically made of wood with animal skin stretched over the frame. They are played with sticks, producing deep, resonant tones that are central to traditional Japanese music. These membranophones have been part of Japanese culture for centuries, often used in festivals, ceremonies, and theatrical performances.
Byzaanchy
The Byzaanchy is a four-stringed spike fiddle from Tuva, featuring an interlocking bow and a resonating chamber. It is played by bowing the strings, producing a rich, resonant sound with a distinctive Tuvan timbre. This chordophone has been part of Tuvan music for centuries, often used in traditional and ceremonial music.
