Instruments Starting with M
To help pay for the upkeep of this website World of Musicality contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these Amazon links, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. See our Privacy Policy for more information.
From the Macetas pots of Spain to the Muyu woodblock from China, learn more about the instruments of the world.
Buy Musical Instruments on Amazon!
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.
Macetas
Macetas are Spanish percussion instruments consisting of ordinary clay flowerpots filled with water and played with hands or mallets. These idiophones produce a range of pitches depending on the amount of water in the pots, often used in contemporary experimental music. The use of Macetas as musical instruments has roots in Spain, where they have been creatively adapted for performance in modern times.
Maddalam
The Maddalam is a barrel drum from Kerala, India, made out of the wood of the jackfruit tree. This membranophone is played with both hands, with the drum placed horizontally across the lap, producing deep, resonant tones typical of South Indian classical music, particularly in temple rituals and Kathakali dance performances. The Maddalam has been integral to Kerala’s musical traditions for centuries.
Maeta
The Maeta are wood blocks from the Solomon Islands, used in traditional music. These idiophones are played by striking the blocks with mallets, producing sharp, percussive sounds. The Maeta has been part of Solomon Islands’ music for generations, particularly in ceremonial and communal gatherings.
Magu
Magu is the term for a didgeridoo in one of the Aboriginal Australian languages. This aerophone is made from a termite-hollowed eucalyptus branch and is played by blowing into the mouthpiece while using circular breathing to produce continuous droning sounds. The didgeridoo is one of the oldest wind instruments in the world, with roots in Australian Aboriginal culture dating back thousands of years, used primarily in ceremonial and healing music.
Makuta
The Makuta is a tall, barrel-shaped Afro-Cuban drum traditionally used in religious and secular music in Cuba. This membranophone is played with hands, producing deep, rhythmic tones that are central to Afro-Cuban drumming traditions, particularly in ceremonies associated with the Santería religion. The Makuta has been part of Cuban music for centuries, reflecting the African heritage in Cuban culture.
Mandocello
The Mandocello is a large mandolin, larger than a mandola and tuned an octave below a standard mandolin. This chordophone is played by plucking the strings with a plectrum, producing rich, deep tones used in classical, folk, and modern music. The Mandocello originated in Italy and has been part of the mandolin family of instruments since the 19th century.
Mandol
The Mandol is a unique stringed instrument from North Africa, particularly played in Algeria’s capital city of Algiers and the Kabylia region. This chordophone is similar to a mandolin but has a bigger body, flat back, and a longer fretted neck, with 8 to 12 sets of double silk strings. The Mandol has been part of North African musical traditions for many years, particularly in Algerian folk and classical music.
Mandola
The Mandola is a large mandolin, tuned a fifth below a standard mandolin. This chordophone is played by plucking the strings with a plectrum, producing rich, resonant tones used in classical and folk music. The Mandola has been part of European musical traditions since the Renaissance, often used in mandolin orchestras.
Mandolin
The Mandolin is a small, pear-shaped Italian instrument of the lute family with a fretted neck and four to six pairs of strings. This chordophone is played by plucking the strings with a plectrum, producing bright, melodic tones used in various music genres, including Italian folk music and American bluegrass. The Mandolin has been popular in European and American music since the 18th century.
Mandora
The Mandora is an 18th-century European lute, also known as a mandore. This chordophone is played by plucking the strings with fingers or a plectrum, producing soft, melodic tones used in Baroque music. The Mandora was a popular instrument in European classical music during the 18th century.
Manjira
The Manjira is a pair of small hand cymbals from India, traditionally used in devotional music and dance. This idiophone is played by striking the cymbals together, producing a bright, metallic sound. The Manjira has been part of Indian music for centuries, particularly in Hindu religious ceremonies.
Manyanga
The Manyanga is a maraca-style shaker made out of a gourd filled with seeds, commonly found in Kenya and Tanzania. This idiophone is played by shaking the gourd, producing rhythmic sounds that accompany traditional East African music. The Manyanga has been part of East African musical traditions for generations.
Manguaré
The Manguaré is a set of two long tuned logs used by tribes in the Amazon, particularly in Colombia. These idiophones are played by striking the logs with mallets, producing deep, resonant tones used in communication and ceremonial music. The Manguaré has been part of Amazonian indigenous cultures for centuries.
Maracas
Maracas are a pair of rattles filled with dried seeds, pebbles, or small metal pieces, used to provide rhythmic counterpoint in Latin American music. These idiophones are played by shaking the rattles, producing a variety of rhythmic sounds. Maracas have been central to Latin American music for centuries, particularly in genres such as salsa and cumbia.
Marimba
The Marimba is a fully resonated xylophone, played with mallets and commonly found in Central and South American music. This idiophone is made of wooden bars arranged like a keyboard and resonated with pipes underneath, producing melodic, percussive tones. The Marimba has been part of Latin American musical traditions for centuries, with roots in African and indigenous cultures.
Marimba de chonta
The Marimba de chonta is a Pacific Coast marimba built with wooden bars of chonta palm and cane tube resonators made from guadua bamboo. This idiophone is played with mallets, producing melodic tones that are integral to Colombian and Ecuadorian Afro-Pacific music. The Marimba de chonta has deep roots in African traditions, preserved in the music of Colombia’s Pacific coast for centuries.
Marímbula
The Marímbula is a large box thumb piano of Bantu origin, used to provide bass in some forms of Cuban music. This lamellophone is played by plucking metal keys attached to a wooden box, producing deep, resonant tones. The Marímbula has been part of Cuban and Caribbean music since the 19th century, reflecting African influences in the region.
Marovany
The Marovany is a rectangular, box-shaped zither with strings on both sides, originating from Madagascar. This chordophone is played by plucking the strings with fingers, producing bright, resonant tones used in traditional Malagasy music. The Marovany has been part of Madagascar’s musical culture for centuries, often used in storytelling and ceremonial music.
Marranzanu
The Marranzanu is a Sicilian jaw harp, also known as mariolu, ngannalarruni, and nghinghilarruni. This idiophone is played by placing the instrument in the mouth and plucking the reed, producing a twanging sound. The Marranzanu has been part of Sicilian folk music for centuries, often used in traditional songs and dances.
Maruga
The Maruga is a metal rattle or shaker, often used in Cuban rumba and ritual music. This idiophone is played by shaking, producing rhythmic, percussive sounds that are integral to Afro-Cuban music. The Maruga has been part of Cuban musical traditions for centuries, particularly in religious and festive contexts.
Masenko
The Masenko is a one-string fiddle from Ethiopia, traditionally played by azmari, or entertaining bards. This chordophone is played by bowing the single string, producing melodic, resonant tones used in Ethiopian folk and ceremonial music. The Masenko has been part of Ethiopian culture for centuries, often used in storytelling and praise singing.
Matepe mbira
The Matepe mbira is a Zimbabwean mbira with thin keys, ranging from 29 to 34 in number. This lamellophone is played by plucking the keys with thumbs, producing interlocking melodies typical of Shona music. The Matepe mbira has been central to Zimbabwean music for centuries, often used in spiritual and ceremonial contexts.
Matraca
The Matraca is a wooden ratchet used during Holy Week in Spain. This idiophone is played by rotating the handle, causing the wooden clappers to strike the frame and produce a loud, rhythmic sound. The Matraca has been part of Spanish religious traditions for centuries, particularly in processions during Holy Week.
Matracca
The Matracca is a Sardinian ratchet used during Holy Week, similar to the Spanish Matraca. This idiophone is played by rotating the handle, producing a sharp, percussive sound used in religious processions. The Matracca has been part of Sardinian religious practices for centuries, especially during Easter celebrations.
Matsuribue
The Matsuribue is a flute used during festivals in Japan. This aerophone is played by blowing into the mouthpiece and covering the finger holes to produce melodic tones. The Matsuribue has been part of Japanese cultural traditions for centuries, particularly in Shinto festivals and celebrations.
Matuqin
The Matuqin is a bowed lute adorned with a horse head at the top, originating from China and Mongolia. This chordophone is played by bowing the strings, producing deep, resonant tones that are central to Mongolian and Chinese folk music. The Matuqin, also known as the morin khuur, has been part of Central Asian musical traditions for centuries, often associated with nomadic culture.
Maung
The Maung is a gong from Myanmar, sometimes played in a set of gongs placed in a circle. This idiophone is struck with mallets, producing resonant, metallic tones used in traditional Burmese music. The Maung has been part of Myanmar’s musical heritage for centuries, particularly in religious and ceremonial music.
Mayohuacán
The Mayohuacán is an indigenous Caribbean slit wooden drum found in Cuba and other islands, traditionally used as a war drum by Taino men. This idiophone is played by striking the wooden surface with sticks, producing deep, resonant tones. The Mayohuacán has been part of Caribbean indigenous culture for centuries, particularly in ceremonial and ritual contexts.
Mazhar
The Mazhar is a large bass tambourine with brass jingles, used throughout North Africa and the Middle East. This membranophone is played by striking the drumhead with hands, producing deep, resonant tones that accompany traditional and ceremonial music. The Mazhar has been part of Middle Eastern and North African musical traditions for centuries.
Mbaire
The Mbaire is a large xylophone from the Busoga region of Uganda, consisting of twenty large keys arranged in a pentatonic scale. This idiophone is played by six people using mallets, producing complex, rhythmic melodies typical of Ugandan folk music. The Mbaire has been part of Ugandan musical traditions for generations, often used in communal celebrations.
M’bal
The M’bal is a shorter version of the n’der drum of the Wolof people from Senegal. This membranophone is played with hands or sticks, producing sharp, rhythmic tones that accompany traditional Senegalese music, particularly in the sabar drumming ensemble. The M’bal has been part of Wolof musical culture for centuries, often used in dance and celebratory music.
Mbela
The Mbela is a musical bow from the Central African Republic, made of an arched branch and a string cut from a vine. This chordophone is played by striking the string with a stick while varying the mouth cavity as a resonator to modulate the sound. The Mbela has been part of Central African musical traditions for centuries, often used in storytelling and ritual music.
Mbira
The Mbira, often referred to as a “thumb piano,” is a lamellophone found primarily in the Shona culture of Zimbabwe. It consists of 22 to 28 thin iron keys mounted on a hardwood resonating box, played by plucking the keys with thumbs and fingers to create interlocking melodies. The Mbira has been central to Zimbabwean spiritual and ceremonial music for centuries, often used in religious rituals and social gatherings.
M’bung m’bung bal
The M’bung m’bung bal is a shorter bass version of the n’der drum, used in a sabar drum set by the Wolof people of Senegal. This membranophone is played with hands or sticks, producing deep, resonant tones that provide the accompanying rhythm in traditional Senegalese music. The M’bung m’bung bal has been part of Wolof musical culture for centuries, particularly in dance and celebratory music.
M’bung m’bung tungoné
The M’bung m’bung tungoné is another shorter bass version of the n’der drum, used in the sabar drum set by the Wolof people of Senegal. This membranophone is played with hands or sticks, contributing to the rhythmic foundation of traditional Senegalese music. The M’bung m’bung tungoné has been integral to Wolof drumming traditions for generations.
Meba
The Meba is a vertical reed instrument from the Hani community of Yunnan, China. This aerophone is played by blowing into the reed, producing melodic tones used in traditional Hani music. The Meba has been part of Hani cultural traditions for centuries, often used in folk songs and rituals.
Meleket
The Meleket is a long bamboo trumpet from Ethiopia, without finger holes. This aerophone is played by blowing into the mouthpiece, producing deep, resonant tones typical of Ethiopian ceremonial music. The Meleket has been part of Ethiopian culture for centuries, often used in religious and festive occasions.
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electronic keyboard instrument that uses pre-recorded tape loops to produce sampled sounds, making it the first sampler. This electrophone was introduced in 1963 and became popular among progressive rock bands for its ability to reproduce orchestral sounds. The Mellotron has been a significant instrument in rock music since the 1960s, particularly in the development of progressive rock.
Melodeon
The Melodeon is a button-keyed accordion with ten keys, giving a twenty-note diatonic range, popular in folk music. This free-reed aerophone is played by pressing the buttons while compressing and expanding the bellows, producing bright, melodic tones. The Melodeon has been part of European and North American folk traditions for centuries, particularly in Irish, Scottish, and English music.
Mepa
The Mepa is a rolled-up tree leaf shaped like a horn, used as a wind instrument by the Hani community of Yunnan, China. This aerophone is played by blowing into the leaf, producing a buzzing, resonant sound typical of Hani folk music. The Mepa has been part of Hani cultural traditions for generations, often used in rituals and storytelling.
Metallophones
Metallophones are percussion instruments consisting of a row of tuned metal bars, which are struck with mallets to produce sound. These idiophones are used in various musical traditions worldwide, including Gamelan orchestras in Indonesia. Metallophones have been part of global musical traditions for centuries, particularly in Asia and Africa.
Mi Gaung
The Mi Gaung is a Burmese three-stringed instrument shaped like a crocodile, used in traditional Burmese music. This chordophone is played by plucking the strings, producing melodic tones that are central to Burmese classical and folk music. The Mi Gaung has been part of Myanmar’s musical heritage for centuries.
Mih
The Mih is a bagpipe without a drone, native to the regions of Istria and Kvarner in Croatia, also known as diple and mjeh. This aerophone is played by blowing air into the bag and squeezing it to produce sound, with the melody played on a double-pipe chanter. The Mih has been part of Croatian and Bosnian musical traditions for centuries, particularly in rural and pastoral music.
Mihbaj
The Mihbaj is a Bedouin coffee-grinder made of wood, used both as a tool and a percussion instrument. This idiophone produces a rhythmic sound when the pestle is used to grind coffee, often accompanying Bedouin songs and poetry. The Mihbaj has been part of Bedouin culture for centuries, reflecting the importance of coffee in social and ceremonial life.
Mijwiz
The Mijwiz is a North African and Arabic double reed pipe made from cane, often used in folk music. This aerophone is played by blowing into the reeds and covering the finger holes to produce sharp, piercing tones typical of Middle Eastern music. The Mijwiz has been part of Arabic and North African musical traditions for centuries, often used in weddings and celebrations.
Milk jug
The Milk jug is a percussion instrument used by Central European Gypsy (Roma) musicians, typically made from metal or ceramic. This idiophone is played by striking the jug with hands or sticks, producing deep, resonant tones that accompany traditional Roma music. The Milk jug has been part of Roma musical traditions for generations, reflecting the community’s resourcefulness in creating music from everyday objects.
Mina y Curbata
The Mina y Curbata are a set of one-headed Afro-Venezuelan barrel drums made from avocado wood. The Mina drum is about 2 meters long and is played diagonally with sticks, while the Curbata is about 1 meter long and also played with sticks, producing rhythmic patterns central to Venezuelan folk music. These drums have been part of Venezuelan musical culture for centuries, particularly in Afro-Venezuelan communities.
Mišnice
The Mišnice is a bagpipe made from goatskin, native to Dalmatia (Croatia) and Herzegovina (Bosnia-Herzegovina). This aerophone features a double pipe chanter and is played by blowing air into the bag and squeezing it to produce sound, with one pipe serving as the drone and the other for melody. The Mišnice has been part of Balkan musical traditions for centuries, often used in rural and festive music.
Miya-daiko
The Miya-daiko is a shrine or temple drum from Japan, traditionally used in religious ceremonies. This membranophone is played with sticks, producing deep, resonant tones that accompany traditional Japanese music, particularly in Shinto and Buddhist rituals. The Miya-daiko has been part of Japanese culture for centuries, symbolizing the spiritual connection between sound and ritual.
Mizwad
The Mizwad is a bagpipe with a joined double-chanter, terminating in two cow horns, with a skin bag made from sheep skin, native to Tunisia. This aerophone is played by blowing air into the bag and squeezing it to produce sound, with the melody played on the double-chanter. The Mizwad has been part of Tunisian folk music for centuries, often used in weddings and celebrations.
Molo
The Molo is a two-string calabash lute from northern Ghana, related to similar instruments found across West Africa and the Sahara. This chordophone is played by plucking the strings, producing melodic tones that are integral to traditional Ghanaian music. The Molo has been part of West African musical culture for centuries, often used in storytelling and ceremonial music.
Moraharpa
The Moraharpa is a medieval ancestor to the Swedish nyckelharpa, still played today. This chordophone is played by bowing the strings and pressing keys to change the pitch, producing rich, melodic tones used in Swedish folk music. The Moraharpa has been part of Swedish musical traditions since the Middle Ages, often used in folk and dance music.
Moravske gajdy
The Moravske gajdy is a Moravian bagpipe from the Czech Republic, traditionally used in folk music. This aerophone is played by blowing air into the bag and squeezing it to produce sound, with the melody played on the chanter and the drone providing a continuous harmonic background. The Moravske gajdy has been part of Czech musical culture for centuries, particularly in rural and pastoral settings.
Morin huur
The Morin huur, also known as the horse-head fiddle, is a bowed string instrument with a trapezoid body and a horse’s head carved at the top of the neck, symbolizing Mongolian and Buryat musical tradition. This chordophone is played by bowing the strings, producing deep, resonant tones that can imitate the sound of a horse, integral to Mongolian and Buryat music for centuries.
Morsing
The Morsing is a Jew’s harp from southern India, highly respected and taught at university music schools. This idiophone is played by plucking the reed while holding the instrument against the mouth, producing a twanging sound that is central to Carnatic music. The Morsing has been part of Indian musical traditions for centuries, particularly in South Indian classical music.
Mouth harp
The Mouth harp is another name for the harmonica, particularly among blues musicians. This free-reed aerophone is played by blowing air into the mouthpiece and covering the holes to produce different pitches, central to blues, folk, and rock music. The harmonica has been popular in American music since the 19th century, particularly in blues and folk traditions.
Moxeño
The Moxeño is a long bamboo flute, ranging from 65 cm to 1.5 meters in length, with an attached air tube, used in Bolivian music. This aerophone is played by blowing into the air tube, producing deep, resonant tones typical of Andean music. The Moxeño has been part of Bolivian musical traditions for centuries, particularly in indigenous and folk music.
Mpuunyi
The Mpuunyi is a large conical-shaped bass drum from Uganda, traditionally used in ceremonial music. This membranophone is played with sticks, producing deep, resonant tones that are central to Ugandan folk music. The Mpuunyi has been part of Ugandan culture for centuries, often used in rituals and communal gatherings.
Mridangam
The Mridangam is a double-headed barrel-shaped drum used in Carnatic (South Indian) classical music. This membranophone is played by striking both drumheads with hands while seated, producing intricate rhythms that are central to South Indian classical performances. The Mridangam has been part of Indian classical music for centuries, often used as the primary percussion instrument in Carnatic concerts.
Mudbesh
The Mudbesh is a single reed instrument made from cane, originating from Iraq. This aerophone is played by blowing into the reed, producing a sharp, reedy tone used in traditional Iraqi music. The Mudbesh has been part of Iraqi musical traditions for centuries, often used in folk and ceremonial music.
Munnharpe
The Munnharpe is a Norwegian jaw harp made out of metal, traditionally used in Scandinavian folk music. This idiophone is played by placing the instrument against the teeth and plucking the reed, producing a twanging sound. The Munnharpe has been part of Norwegian musical culture for centuries, often used in traditional songs and dances.
Munniharppu
The Munniharppu is a Finnish Jew’s harp, similar to the Norwegian Munnharpe. This idiophone is played by placing the instrument against the teeth and plucking the reed, producing a characteristic twanging sound. The Munniharppu has been part of Finnish folk music for centuries, often used in traditional storytelling and dances.
Murali
The Murali is a double clarinet with a wind chamber from India, traditionally used in folk music. This aerophone is played by blowing into the chamber and covering the finger holes to produce melodic tones. The Murali has been part of Indian folk music for centuries, particularly in rural and pastoral settings.
Murchang
The Murchang is a Jew’s harp from Rajasthan and northern India, traditionally used in folk music. This idiophone is played by placing the instrument against the teeth and plucking the reed, producing a resonant, rhythmic sound. The Murchang has been part of Indian musical traditions for centuries, often used in devotional and folk music.
Musette bechonnet
The Musette bechonnet is a bellows-blown bagpipe from the High Loire region of France, named after its builder Joseph Bechonnet. This aerophone is played by blowing air into the bag and squeezing it to produce sound, with the melody played on the chanter and the drone providing harmony. The Musette bechonnet has been part of French musical traditions for centuries, particularly in folk and dance music.
Musette de Coeur
The Musette de Coeur is a Baroque-era bellows-blown bagpipe with two small cylindrical keyed chanters and a shuttle drone. This aerophone is played by blowing air into the bag and squeezing it to produce sound, with the melody played on the keyed chanters. The Musette de Coeur was popular in French Baroque music during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Musukitarra
The Musukitarra is a Basque jaw harp, also known as trompa musukitarra, traditionally used in Basque folk music. This idiophone is played by placing the instrument against the teeth and plucking the reed, producing a rhythmic, twanging sound. The Musukitarra has been part of Basque musical traditions for centuries, often used in traditional songs and dances.
Muye
The Muye is a tree leaf used as a wind instrument in China, traditionally played by blowing into the leaf to produce a buzzing sound. This aerophone is part of Chinese folk music, particularly in rural and pastoral settings. The Muye has been part of Chinese cultural traditions for centuries, often used in storytelling and rituals.
Muyu
The Muyu is a fish-shaped woodblock, also known as a Chinese temple block, traditionally used in Buddhist rituals. This idiophone is played by striking the wooden block with a mallet, producing a resonant, percussive sound. The Muyu has been part of Chinese religious and ceremonial music for centuries, often used in temples and monasteries.
