Alphabetical List of Instruments – J
From the traditional Jalatharangam bowls from India to the Juru Kelenni lute of West Africa, 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.
Jalatharangam
The Jalatharangam consists of a set of porcelain bowls filled with varying levels of water, which are struck with sticks to produce a xylophone-like sound. Musicians play this instrument by tapping the edges of the bowls, each filled to a different level, to create melodic notes. Classified as an idiophone, it originated in India and has been used for centuries in traditional Indian classical music. It is particularly associated with Carnatic music and religious performances in southern India.
Jaleika
The Jaleika is a wind instrument made from a cow horn with a reed tip, common in the Tver region of Russia. Musicians play the instrument by blowing air through the reed, causing it to vibrate and produce sound. As an aerophone, it dates back centuries and is traditionally used in Russian folk music, particularly in rural settings.
Janggu
The Janggu is an hourglass-shaped drum with two heads that is central to traditional Korean music. It is played with sticks or hands, with one side typically producing a higher pitch than the other. As a membranophone, it has been used in Korea for hundreds of years, particularly in court music, folk performances, and modern Korean compositions.
Jarana
The Jarana is an 8-10 string guitar originating from the Veracruz region of Mexico, commonly used in son jarocho music. Musicians strum or pluck its strings to accompany traditional Mexican songs and dances. This chordophone has roots in the colonial period and is central to Mexican folk music genres such as son jarocho.
Java
The Java is a finger pick made from coconut shell, used in India for playing string instruments like the veena. Musicians wear the pick on their finger to pluck strings, enhancing the sound and precision. This accessory is part of Indian classical music traditions and has been in use for many centuries in South Asia.
Jabalina
The Jabalina is a 4-string guitar used in the son jarocho genre of Mexican music. Musicians play it by strumming or plucking, often to accompany lively songs and dances. As a chordophone, it is commonly associated with folk traditions in Mexico and has evolved alongside regional music styles since colonial times.
Jaw harp
The Jaw harp is a small metal or bamboo instrument held against the teeth or lips and plucked with the fingers to produce a vibrating sound. It is classified as an idiophone and is found in many cultures around the world, including Asia, Europe, and the Americas. It dates back thousands of years and is used in a variety of traditional folk music.
Jejy lava
The Jejy lava is a one-string musical bow with a small gourd resonator, originating from Madagascar. It is played by plucking the single string, with the resonator enhancing the sound. This chordophone is a traditional Malagasy instrument, often used in rural folk music and cultural rituals.
Jejy voatavo
The Jejy voatavo is a string instrument with two adjacent faces, one with frets and one without, mounted on a gourd resonator from Madagascar. Musicians pluck the strings to create different tones, depending on whether they are playing the fretted or unfretted side. It is a chordophone used in traditional Malagasy music.
Jembe
The Jembe is a large rope-tuned goblet drum covered in goat skin, widely used in West Africa. It is played with the hands, producing a wide range of tones based on hand positioning. As a membranophone, it has been used for centuries in West African cultures, particularly in Mali, Guinea, and Senegal, and is central to traditional and contemporary African music.
Jetakh
The Jetakh is a board zither related to the Chinese zheng and Japanese koto, originating from Mongolia. Musicians play it by plucking its strings, which are stretched across a long wooden board. This chordophone has historical significance in Mongolian music and is used in both folk and court music.
Jew’s harp
The Jew’s harp is a small lyre-shaped instrument made of metal or bamboo, which is held against the mouth and plucked to produce sound. The mouth acts as a resonator, and variations of the instrument are found in many cultures around the world. It is classified as an idiophone and has been used for centuries in traditional music across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
Jhanj
The Jhanj is an Indian cymbal used in religious and folk music. Musicians hold the cymbals in their hands and strike them together to produce rhythmic, metallic sounds. Classified as an idiophone, it is widely used in temple rituals and devotional music throughout India.
Jigatch
The Jigatch is a Kyrgyz wooden Jew’s harp, an older version of the temir komuz. It is played by vibrating the tongue of the instrument with a string, which creates sound resonated by the mouth. This idiophone has been a part of Kyrgyz music traditions for centuries, used in both folk and court music.
Jing
The Jing is a large bronze gong used in traditional Korean nongak music, played with a padded stick. As an idiophone, it has been used for centuries in both ceremonial and folk music in Korea, especially in performances like farmers’ dances and shamanic rituals.
Jinghu
The Jinghu is a soprano version of the erhu, a two-stringed fiddle used in Beijing opera. Musicians play it with a bow, and its higher pitch makes it suitable for accompanying vocal performances. This traditional Chinese chordophone has been central to Beijing opera music since the 19th century.
Jouhikko
The Jouhikko is a Finnish bowed lyre with drone strings and one melody string, played simultaneously. It is held upright and played with a bow, and the sound resembles that of a traditional violin. This chordophone is an ancient instrument used in narrative and epic singing in Finland and Russian Karelia, dating back hundreds of years.
Joza
The Joza is an Iraqi spiked fiddle related to the rebab, played upright with a bow. This chordophone has deep historical roots in the Middle East, particularly in traditional Iraqi music. It has been used in Arab classical and folk music for centuries, often accompanying vocal performances.
Juan-hsieng
The Juan-hsieng is a Taiwanese moon guitar, a round-bodied lute with four strings. Musicians pluck or strum the strings to produce melodies, often in traditional Taiwanese folk music. As a chordophone, it is a variation of the Chinese moon lute and has been a part of East Asian musical traditions for centuries.
Jug
The Jug is a simple container used as a musical instrument, where sound is produced by blowing across the opening of the jug. It is classified as an aerophone and is commonly used in American folk and blues music, particularly in the early 20th century jug bands.
Jun-Jun
The Jun-Jun is a talking drum from Nigeria, played with a stick and the hands. This membranophone has a variable pitch and is used in both traditional and contemporary African music to mimic speech patterns. It has been part of Nigerian music traditions for centuries, particularly in ceremonial and communication contexts.
Junggotan
The Junggotan is a jaw harp used in Sarawak, Malaysia, often in entertainment and courting settings. Played by vibrating a reed with the mouth, it is classified as an idiophone and has cultural significance in traditional Malaysian music. It is usually played at faster tempos, adding rhythm to performances.
Juru Kelenni
The Juru Kelenni is believed to be the earliest known ancestor of the West African ngoni. It is a one-stringed lute played by plucking the string, with the sound amplified by a resonator. This chordophone is traditionally used in West African griot music, and it has ancient origins in the region’s musical history.
