Alphabetical List of Instruments – F
From the traditional Fa’atete drum of Tahiti to the Fyell flute from Kosovo, learn more about the instruments of the world.
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.
Fa’atete
The Fa’atete is a short drum from Tahiti, covered with a tightly stretched single membrane. This membranophone is played with two sticks, producing sharp, rhythmic beats that are central to traditional Tahitian music. The Fa’atete has been part of Polynesian musical culture for centuries, often accompanying dances and ceremonial events.
Fandromboa
The Fandromboa consists of two pieces of wood struck together, used in Madagascar. This simple idiophone is played by clapping the pieces of wood together, producing a sharp, percussive sound. The Fandromboa has been part of Malagasy traditional music for generations, typically used in rhythms accompanying folk songs and dances.
Fiddle
The Fiddle is the term used in traditional American music, such as bluegrass, country, blues, and old-time music, for a violin. This chordophone is played with a bow, and the style of play emphasizes rhythmic, lively tunes often heard in folk and dance music. The fiddle has been integral to American traditional music since the colonial era, drawing from European violin traditions.
Firikyiwa
The Firikyiwa is a thumb bell from Ghana, consisting of a round hollow iron shell worn on the finger and struck by a heavy ring worn on the thumb. This idiophone produces a sharp, metallic sound that punctuates the rhythms in traditional Ghanaian music. The Firikyiwa has been part of Ghanaian culture for centuries, particularly in Akan drumming ensembles.
Fisarmonica
Fisarmonica is the Italian term for an accordion, a portable free-reed aerophone with a keyboard on one side and buttons on the other. It is played by compressing and expanding the bellows while pressing the keys or buttons to produce sound. The fisarmonica has been used in Italian folk and popular music since its development in the 19th century.
Flageolet
The Flageolet is a six-hole recorder that was developed in France, made from wood and featuring a fipple mouthpiece. This aerophone is played by blowing into the mouthpiece and covering the finger holes to produce different pitches. The flageolet was popular in French classical and folk music from the 16th to the 19th century.
Flauta
Flauta is the Spanish word for flute, a wind instrument typically made of wood, metal, or bone. This aerophone is played by blowing air into the tube and covering the finger holes to produce melodic tones. Variations of the flauta, including the transverse flute and the piccolo, are used in a wide range of music genres across Spanish-speaking countries.
Flauta de millo
The Flauta de millo is a short flute with a reed, played horizontally and made from millet or sorghum cane. This aerophone is played by blowing across the reed while covering the finger holes to produce melodic tones typical of Colombian folk music. The Flauta de millo has been part of Colombia’s musical heritage for centuries, particularly in coastal regions.
Flautas de Carrizo
Flautas de Carrizo are small flutes made from bamboo or reed grass, with 3 to 6 finger holes. This aerophone is played by blowing across the top of the flute and covering the holes to produce the notes of a major scale, commonly used in Mexican traditional dances. These flutes have been part of Mexican musical traditions for centuries, especially in regions like Tabasco, Chiapas, and Oaxaca.
Flauta rociera
The Flauta rociera is a three-hole flute used in the El Rocio pilgrimages in southern Spain, also known as pito rociero. This aerophone is played by blowing into the flute and covering the holes to produce simple yet melodic tunes. The flauta rociera has been associated with Andalusian religious and folk traditions for centuries.
Flejguta
The Flejguta is a Maltese cane whistle flute, traditionally made from cane. This aerophone is played by blowing air into the whistle and covering the holes to create different pitches. The Flejguta has been part of Maltese folk music for generations, often used in pastoral and traditional music settings.
Flojere
The Flojere is a Kosovar Albanian end-blown flute, traditionally made from wood or reed. This aerophone is played by blowing air into the end of the flute and covering the finger holes to produce melodic tones. The Flojere has been part of Albanian folk music for centuries, particularly in rural and shepherd communities.
Flowerpots
Flowerpots are ordinary clay or ceramic pots tuned with water and played with hands or mallets. These idiophones produce different pitches depending on the amount of water in the pots, used in contemporary experimental music. While not traditional instruments, flowerpots have been adapted into modern percussion ensembles for their unique sound.
Floyera
The Floyera is a shepherd’s flute from Greece, originally made from a branch or bamboo, with modern versions made from metal or plastic. This aerophone is played by blowing air into the flute and covering the finger holes to produce melodic tunes. The Floyera has been part of Greek folk music for centuries, often associated with pastoral life and traditional celebrations.
Flute
The Flute is a wind instrument made from wood, bone, metal, or other materials, shaped as a tube with round holes that are covered by fingers or keys. This aerophone is played by blowing a stream of air into the tube through a sharp edge opening, producing melodic tones. The flute has ancient origins and is used in a wide variety of music genres worldwide, including orchestral, folk, and contemporary music.
Fotutu
The Fotutu are conch shells used as horns by indigenous tribes in pre-colonial Cuba. This aerophone is played by blowing into the shell’s opening, producing a deep, resonant sound used in traditional rituals and communication. The Fotutu has been part of Cuban indigenous culture for centuries, particularly in ceremonial contexts.
Frame drum
A Frame drum is an ancient percussion instrument with a drumhead width greater than its depth, typically featuring a single drumhead made of rawhide. This membranophone is played by striking the drumhead with hands or sticks, producing rhythmic beats. The frame drum has been used in various cultures worldwide for thousands of years, often in religious and folk music.
Frula
The Frula is a six-hole shepherd’s flute from Serbia, also known as svirala or jedinka. This aerophone is played by blowing into the flute and covering the finger holes to produce melodic tones typical of Serbian folk music. The Frula has been part of Balkan musical traditions for centuries, especially in rural communities.
Fue
Fue is the Japanese term for flute, encompassing various traditional Japanese flutes made from bamboo. These aerophones are played by blowing air into the mouthpiece and covering finger holes to produce different pitches. The fue has been integral to Japanese music for centuries, particularly in traditional and ceremonial music.
Fuelle
Fuelle is Argentine slang for bandoneón, a type of accordion widely used in Argentine tango music. This free-reed aerophone is played by compressing and expanding the bellows while pressing keys or buttons to produce melodic tunes. The bandoneón has been central to tango music since the late 19th century, symbolizing Argentine musical culture.
Fujara
The Fujara is a Slovak shepherd’s flute, approximately 1.8 meters long, known for its deep, resonant tones. This aerophone is played by blowing into the mouthpiece and covering the finger holes, creating rich melodies associated with Slovak folk music. The Fujara was inscribed in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008, reflecting its cultural significance.
Fujara bezotworowa
The Fujara bezotworowa is a Polish shepherd’s flute without holes, producing sound by blowing into the instrument and controlling the pitch through breath and embouchure. This aerophone is unique to Polish folk traditions, used by shepherds and rural musicians. The instrument has been part of Polish cultural heritage for centuries, particularly in pastoral settings.
Fujara trombita
The Fujara trombita is a Slovak mountain horn, ranging from 2 to 6 meters in length. This aerophone is played by blowing into the mouthpiece, producing deep, resonant tones that echo through the mountains. The Fujara trombita has been used in Slovak folk music for centuries, often by shepherds and in rural communities.
Fyell
The Fyell is a Kosovar Albanian end-blown shepherd’s flute, traditionally used in pastoral and folk music. This aerophone is played by blowing into the end of the flute and covering the finger holes to produce melodic tones. The Fyell has been part of Albanian cultural traditions for centuries, especially in rural areas.
