Alphabetical List of Instruments – O
From the traditional Ovcharska svirka from Bulgaria to the Oblente drum deom Ghana, learn more about the musical 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.
Oblente
The Oblente is a large standing drum, primarily used by the Ga people in Ghana. Musicians play this drum with sticks, striking the drumhead to produce rhythmic beats. It falls under the Hornbostel–Sachs classification of membranophones as a percussion instrument. It has a longstanding tradition in West African ceremonial and musical events, especially in communal gatherings and rituals.
Obonu
The Obonu is a set of hourglass-shaped royal drums from the Ashanti region in Ghana, known for their significance in ceremonial occasions. The drum is played using sticks and often accompanies official events. It is classified as a membranophone. These drums have been used for centuries in West African culture, typically played during royal and community gatherings.
Obrenten
The Obrenten is a single-headed, peg-tuned, hourglass-shaped master drum from Ghana. It is played with sticks and is often the lead drum in an ensemble, providing rhythm and tempo for the group. As a membranophone, this drum is integral to traditional Ghanaian music, especially in ceremonies and festivals, with roots going back many generations.
Ocarina
The Ocarina is a small, vessel-shaped wind instrument traditionally made from clay, terracotta, or ceramic, although modern versions can be made from plastic or metal. A musician blows into the mouthpiece while covering various holes to change pitch. This aerophone is found in many cultures worldwide, including regions in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The Ocarina has been used in folk and traditional music for centuries, especially in South American and Italian music.
Octavilla
The Octavilla is a small, 12-string plucked guitar similar to a bandurria, typically used in Spain. It is played by plucking or strumming the strings with a plectrum, creating a bright, melodic sound. As a chordophone, it has historical roots in Spanish folk and classical music. The instrument is a staple in traditional Spanish music genres such as zarzuela and rondalla.
Odaiko
The Odaiko is a large, barrel-shaped drum from Japan, commonly used in festivals and traditional performances. It is played using thick, padded sticks, striking the drumhead in powerful, rhythmic beats. Classified as a membranophone, this drum has been used for centuries in Japanese ceremonies, Taiko drumming, and Shinto festivals, symbolizing power and unity.
Odono
The Odono is a small hourglass-shaped talking drum from Ghana. Played with a curved stick, the musician can manipulate the tension on the drum’s head to alter its pitch, mimicking human speech. It is a membranophone and has long been used in West African music, especially in communication, storytelling, and ritual performances.
Oghene
The Oghene is an oval-shaped metal gong from the Igbo people of Nigeria. It is struck with a stick on its rim to produce sharp, resonant tones. This idiophone is typically used in traditional Nigerian music, particularly in ceremonies and communal events. The Oghene has been a part of Igbo culture for centuries, originally made of bronze but now more commonly made of metal.
Ogung
Ogung refers to a set of four iron gongs from Sumatra, Indonesia. Played with mallets, these gongs produce different pitches and are often used to create rhythmic patterns in traditional Indonesian ensembles. As an idiophone, Ogung is commonly used in ceremonial and religious music in Indonesia, with roots in the ancient musical traditions of the region.
Oja
The Oja is a small wooden flute with three holes from the Ibo people of Nigeria. It is played by blowing air into the flute and covering the holes to change the pitch. As an aerophone, it is a traditional instrument used in Igbo ceremonies, celebrations, and storytelling, with a history that stretches back many generations.
Ojeh
The Ojeh is a metal gong used by the Igede people of Nigeria, typically struck during dances and celebrations. It is an idiophone, producing sharp, metallic tones when struck. Ojeh gongs have been integral to Igede cultural ceremonies for many years, accompanying traditional dance and musical ensembles.
Oko
The Oko is a side-blown trumpet made from antelope horn, used by the Edo people of Nigeria. It produces deep, resonant tones and is primarily used in ceremonial and war call contexts. Classified as an aerophone, it has a rich history in Nigerian traditional music, where it once served as a battle signal and is now used in cultural festivals and rituals.
Okónkolo
The Okónkolo is the smallest of the batá drums, traditionally used in Afro-Cuban religious ceremonies. It is an hourglass-shaped drum that is played with the hands, providing the rhythmic foundation for the ensemble. As a membranophone, it has its origins in Yoruba religious practices and is commonly used in Santería rituals in Cuba.
Okpirih
The Okpirih is an Igede wooden tenor drum from Nigeria, forming part of a drum set used in ceremonies and celebrations. It is a membranophone, played with sticks, and typically accompanies other drums to create intricate rhythmic patterns. The Okpirih has been a central part of Igede cultural life, particularly in traditional dances and music performances.
Omele
The Omele is a small talking drum from Nigeria, traditionally used in Yoruba music. Played with one hand and a curved stick, the musician can alter the pitch by squeezing the drum’s cords. As a membranophone, it is commonly featured in Yoruba religious ceremonies and festivals, often accompanying larger drums.
Ootsuzumi
The Ootsuzumi, also known as Ookawa or Otsuzumi, is a Japanese hourglass-shaped hand drum. Played by striking the drumhead with the bare hand, it produces sharp, high-pitched tones. As a membranophone, it is commonly used in Noh theater, Kabuki performances, and traditional Japanese music, with a history that dates back centuries.
Opikeh
The Opikeh is a side-blown bugle made from antelope horn, traditionally used by the Igede people of Nigeria. It produces a deep, resonant sound and was originally used as a battle call. As an aerophone, it has since transitioned into use in celebrations and cultural dances, maintaining its historical significance in Igede music.
Organetto
The Organetto is a diatonic accordion used in traditional Italian music, with buttons for both melody and bass. It is a free-reed aerophone, played by pressing the keys and pumping air through the bellows. Originating from Italy, it has been used in folk music for centuries, providing lively accompaniment in dances and festivals.
Organistrum
The Organistrum is a large medieval instrument, often considered the precursor to the hurdy-gurdy. Played by two musicians, one turns a crank to rotate the wheel that vibrates the strings, while the other presses keys to change pitch. Classified as a chordophone, this instrument has a rich history in European religious and folk music, dating back to the 12th century.
Ovcharska svirka
The Ovcharska svirka is a long, end-blown shepherd’s flute from Bulgaria, traditionally made from wood. Played by blowing into the end and covering the holes to change the pitch, it is an aerophone commonly used in Bulgarian folk music. Its history is deeply connected to the pastoral traditions of Bulgarian shepherds, who have used the instrument for centuries.
