Instruments Starting with N
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From the traditional Nabal brass horn from Korea to the Nyckelharpa fiddle from Scandinavia. 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.
Nabal
The Nabal is a straight brass horn, about 114 cm long, used in Korean nongak rural traditional music and military processions like daechwita. Musicians blow into the mouthpiece to produce its sound, signaling the beginning and end of performances. It falls under the aerophone classification in the Hornbostel-Sachs system. Originating in Korea, the Nabal has a long history in traditional ceremonial music.
Nagado-daiko
The Nagado-daiko is a long-bodied Japanese drum made from wood with a cow-skin drumhead. It is played with sticks and is often used in traditional Japanese ceremonies and festivals. Classified as a membranophone, it comes from Japan and is also known as the miya daiko or odaiko. It has been in use for centuries in Japan’s traditional music genres such as taiko drumming.
Nai
The Nai is a set of diatonic panpipes with a curved row of 20 pipes made from wood, bamboo, or reed. Musicians blow across the top of each pipe to create sound, altering pitch by changing the pipe lengths. It is an aerophone and originates from Romania. The Nai dates back to ancient times and is frequently used in Romanian folk music.
Nanga
The Nanga is a small seven-string rectangular box harp from Uganda, also found in a variant form as a Congolese arched harp. Played by plucking the strings, it falls under the chordophone classification. The instrument is prominent in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and is used in traditional African music. Its history spans back several centuries.
Nangara
The Nangara is either a kettle drum from Rajasthan, India, or a 50 cm tall drum of the Teda people in Chad, played with sticks. It is a membranophone, classified by its drumhead stretched over a hollow frame. The Indian version is used in folk and ceremonial music, while the Chad version is integrated into local traditions.
Nao
Nao are a pair of large Chinese cymbals, often used in ceremonial music. Musicians strike them together to produce sound, making them a type of idiophone. Originating from China, these cymbals have been part of traditional Chinese music for many centuries and are still used in rituals and processions.
Naqqara
The Naqqara is a North African and Middle Eastern pair of kettledrums made from baked clay and played with sticks. It is classified as a membranophone. The instrument is ancient, dating back over a millennium, and is used in classical and ceremonial music throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
Naqus
Naqus are small brass cymbals used in North African and Middle Eastern music, played by striking them with iron sticks. These idiophones are known for their clear, resonant sound. Originating from ancient traditions, they are integral to certain religious and ceremonial music in these regions.
Narimono
Narimono refers to various percussive instruments like wooden blocks, bells, and cymbals in Japan. These idiophones are typically used in traditional Japanese music, particularly in religious ceremonies and festivals. They have been used for centuries in both religious and secular contexts.
Native American Flute
The Native American flute is an end-blown block flute made of wood. It is played by blowing into the top of the instrument while covering or uncovering finger holes to change pitch. This aerophone is indigenous to Native American cultures and has a history dating back several centuries. It is commonly used in Native American spiritual and folk music.
N’der
The N’der is a long drum with an open bottom from Senegal, used as a solo drum in the sabar drum set. It is played with hands or sticks and is classified as a membranophone. This instrument has a long tradition in Wolof culture, especially in ceremonies and traditional music. Its role in sabar drumming is integral to West African rhythms.
Ndingidi
The Ndingidi is a one-stringed tube fiddle from Buganda, Uganda. Played with a bow, this chordophone produces a distinctive sound used in Ugandan folk music. It has been a part of traditional Ugandan music for centuries and remains popular in various cultural performances.
Ndomu
The Ndomu is a bow harp played by the Efe Pygmy people of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Made with five strings, traditionally of vegetal material, it is plucked and classified as a chordophone. This ancient instrument plays a significant role in Pygmy cultural music, passed down through generations.
Ndongo
The Ndongo is an eight-stringed bowl lyre from the Baganda people of Uganda. Played by plucking the strings, it falls under the chordophone category. It has a long history in Ugandan musical traditions and is often used in royal ceremonies and folk music.
Negarit
The Negarit is a large Ethiopian kettledrum played with sticks. It is a membranophone and is often used in military and ceremonial music, dating back centuries in Ethiopia. Its deep sound is symbolic in processions and important events.
Nentsi
The Nentsi is a hand drum used by Canadian Inuit peoples. It is typically played by striking with hands or a beater, classifying it as a membranophone. This traditional drum plays a vital role in Inuit cultural music and rituals, passed down through generations.
Ney
The Ney is an ancient Middle Eastern oblique reed flute with five finger holes and one thumb hole, producing a unique sound. It is classified as an aerophone and has been a fundamental instrument in Persian and Turkish classical music for over 5,000 years. The Ney’s distinctive tonal quality is integral to the spiritual and classical traditions of the region.
Ney Anban
The Ney Anban is a traditional Iranian bagpipe with a body made of goat skin, used in southern Iran. The player blows into a pipe, and the air is directed into the bag, which provides a continuous sound. This aerophone has a long history in Persian folk music and is often associated with festive and cultural events.
Nga
The Nga is a Tibetan drum used in Buddhist rituals. Typically played with hands or mallets, this membranophone has been used in religious ceremonies for centuries. Its role in spiritual music is deeply embedded in Tibetan culture, accompanying chants and other meditative sounds.
Ngoni
The Ngoni is a small, traditional West African four-string lute with a teardrop shape, played by plucking. As a chordophone, it is an essential instrument in the griot tradition, with its origins traced back to the 13th century Mali Empire. It plays a key role in storytelling and musical performances across West Africa.
Ngombi
The Ngombi is an arched harp from the Baka people of Southeast Cameroon and the Central African Republic. This chordophone is made from bamboo and is played by plucking the strings. It is an ancient instrument used in traditional Baka music and spiritual ceremonies.
Njarka
The Njarka is a one-string fiddle from Mali made from a gourd and strung with horsehair. It is a chordophone, played with a bow, and is widely used in Malian folk music. This instrument is deeply rooted in West African music traditions.
Njurkle
The Njurkle is a one-stringed lute from Mali, played by plucking the string. It is a chordophone and is an integral part of traditional Malian music. The instrument has been used for centuries in cultural and ceremonial performances.
Nkaniká
Nkaniká is a set of Afro-Cuban bells, typically played with sticks to create rhythmic patterns. As an idiophone, it plays a key role in Afro-Cuban music, especially in genres like rumba and son. It is a relatively modern addition to Cuban percussion, used to maintain rhythmic structure.
Nkomo
The Nkomo is an Afro-Cuban abakuá drum, related to the ekomo drum from Nigeria. It is a membranophone, traditionally used in religious and ceremonial contexts, especially within the Abakuá secret society in Cuba. The drum plays a critical role in maintaining the rhythms of Afro-Cuban music and rituals.
Nogo
The Nogo are pellet drums from Korea, with knotted thongs that strike the drumhead when shaken. This idiophone is typically used in traditional Korean music, including religious ceremonies and folk performances. It has a long history in Korean cultural music and remains a staple of ceremonial soundscapes.
Nohkan
The Nohkan is a bamboo transverse flute from Japan, used in Noh theater. This aerophone has a range of three octaves and is integral to traditional Japanese performing arts. It has been used in Japan for centuries and is known for its piercing, clear tones that accompany dramatic performances.
Northumbrian Smallpipes
The Northumbrian smallpipes are an English bellows-blown bagpipe with a cylindrical chanter and 3 or 4 drones. This aerophone produces a softer, more refined sound compared to other bagpipes. Dating back to at least the 18th century, it is widely used in English folk music, particularly in the Northumberland region.
Nsansi
The Nsansi is a thumb piano from Mozambique, also spelled sansi. It is an idiophone played by plucking metal tines attached to a wooden board. It is commonly used in traditional Mozambican music, especially in spiritual and folk performances, and has been part of local music traditions for generations.
Numan Khuur
The Numan Khuur is a Mongolian bow drum, played by striking with a bow or mallet. This membranophone is often used in Mongolian folk and religious music. It has historical significance in Mongolian culture, often accompanying throat singing and other traditional music forms.
Nyanyero
The Nyanyero is a one-string gourd fiddle found across West Africa, including Gambia. This chordophone is played with a bow and has similar variants like the goje, gonje, and njarka. It is used widely in West African folk music and has deep cultural roots, particularly in griot traditions.
Nyatiti
The Nyatiti is an 8-string lyre from Kenya, carved from wood and covered in goat skin. It is a chordophone traditionally used in Luo music and ceremonies. The instrument has been part of Kenyan music for centuries, symbolizing the storytelling and musical traditions of the Luo people.
Nyunga Nyunga
The Nyunga Nyunga is a smaller version of the mbira, with fewer keys, often referred to as the beginner’s mbira. This idiophone is played by plucking metal tines mounted on a wooden board and is used in Zimbabwean folk and spiritual music. It has been part of Shona cultural traditions for centuries.
Nyckelharpa
The Nyckelharpa is a keyed fiddle used in Scandinavia, with 16 strings (three melodic, one drone, and 12 sympathetic). This chordophone is played with a short bow while pressing keys with the left hand. It has been a part of Scandinavian music since the Middle Ages and is primarily used in Swedish folk music.
