Alphabetical List of Instruments – V
From the traditional Valiha zither from Madagascar to the ancient Spanish Vyola, 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.
Valiha
The Valiha is a traditional bamboo zither from Madagascar, strung with metal strings that run lengthwise around the tube. It is played by plucking the strings with the fingers, producing a bright, metallic sound. Classified as a chordophone in the Hornbostel-Sachs system, the Valiha originates from Madagascar, dating back centuries as an important cultural symbol. It is typically used in Malagasy folk music and is deeply intertwined with ceremonial and traditional music genres.
Vanlig fele
The Vanlig fele is the Norwegian term for the common violin, resembling the European violin but rooted in Norway’s traditional music. It is played with a bow, held under the chin, like other violins. Classified as a chordophone, the Vanlig fele has a history tied to medieval instruments from the 800s, evolving from the fidla and arriving in Norway by the 17th century. It is used primarily in Norwegian folk music, particularly in regional dances and festivals.
Vargan
The Vargan is a Russian jew’s harp, made from metal, played by holding the instrument in the mouth and plucking the flexible tongue with a finger. It is a lamellophone, producing sound through the vibration of a flexible strip. This ancient instrument has been used in Russian folk music for centuries, with records dating back to medieval times. The Vargan is often associated with traditional Russian and Siberian folk music genres.
Veena
The Veena is a plucked string instrument from South India, with a large resonating body and 24 frets. It has four playing strings and three drone strings, played by plucking with the fingers while the musician sits cross-legged. A chordophone, the Veena has existed since ancient times, with evidence of its use in traditional Indian classical music dating back thousands of years. It is central to Carnatic music and South Indian classical traditions.
Velas delis
The Velas delis is a washboard used as a scraper instrument in Latvia. Typically made from metal, it is played by scraping a stick or other object across the corrugated surface to produce a rhythmic rasping sound. As an idiophone, the Velas delis is relatively modern compared to traditional Latvian instruments, used primarily in folk music for rhythmic accompaniment.
Ve Ve
Ve Ve are bamboo buzzers from the highland regions of Vietnam, and similar instruments are found across Southeast Asia. They are played by shaking or spinning, causing the bamboo to vibrate and create a buzzing sound. Classified as an aerophone, these instruments have been used for centuries in regional dance music, especially during festivals and communal celebrations.
Vibraphone
The Vibraphone is a modern xylophone-like instrument with motor-driven metal resonators beneath each bar. Played with mallets, it produces sustained, resonant tones, enhanced by the motor’s vibrato effect. This idiophone was invented in the early 20th century in the United States and is widely used in jazz, orchestral, and contemporary classical music.
Vielle
The Vielle is a French hurdy-gurdy, a stringed instrument where melodies are played on a keyboard while the musician turns a crank to rotate a wheel that bows the strings. A chordophone, the Vielle dates back to medieval Europe, around the 12th century, and is prominently featured in traditional French and European folk music, as well as early music ensembles.
Vihuela
The Vihuela is a plucked string instrument from Spain with a guitar-shaped body and lute-like tuning. It was developed during the Renaissance, primarily used in Spanish court music by the nobility. As a chordophone, it played a pivotal role in Spanish music from the 16th century, often featured in Renaissance and early Baroque genres.
Viola
The Viola is the alto member of the violin family, played with a bow and held under the chin. A chordophone, the modern viola has existed since the 16th century, evolving from earlier string instruments like the medieval fiddle. It is used widely in classical music, both in orchestras and chamber music.
Viola amarantina
The Viola amarantina is a Portuguese guitar with five pairs of metal strings and a double heart-shaped sound hole. It is a chordophone used mainly in Portuguese folk music, dating back to the 18th century. The instrument is often associated with traditional music from the Amarante region of Portugal.
Viola braguesa
The Viola braguesa is a guitar from Braga, Portugal, with five pairs of metal strings. A chordophone, this guitar has been a part of Portuguese folk music since at least the 17th century and is used in regional genres such as fado and other traditional Portuguese songs.
Viola beiroa
The Viola beiroa is a highly ornamented Portuguese guitar, featuring five pairs of metal strings. It has been used in Portuguese folk music for centuries, particularly in the Beira region, and is classified as a chordophone. This guitar has been an essential part of traditional rural music.
Viola campaniça
The Viola campaniça is a unique Portuguese guitar known for its deep, resonant sound, made with five groups of double strings. Once widespread throughout the Low Alentejo region of Portugal, this chordophone has seen its use diminish in recent years but is still tied to traditional rural singing styles.
Viola da gamba
The Viola da gamba, or bass viol, is a fretted string instrument played upright between the legs, like a cello. Originating in Renaissance Europe, it is a chordophone with a history dating back to the 15th century and is commonly used in early music performances and Baroque compositions.
Viola d’amore
The Viola d’amore is a fretless viol with both playing and sympathetic strings that vibrate when other strings are played. This chordophone was popular in Baroque music, particularly in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries, known for its rich, resonant tone.
Viola d’arame
The Viola d’arame is a steel-stringed guitar from the Madeira region of Portugal. This chordophone dates back to at least the 19th century and is used in traditional Portuguese folk music, particularly in Madeira’s local styles.
Violâo
The Violâo is the Brazilian term for the classical guitar, featuring nylon strings and used widely in Brazilian classical and popular music. Originating in 19th-century Europe, the Violâo is a chordophone and is central to genres like bossa nova, samba, and choro.
Violin
The Violin is a bowed four-string instrument from Europe, first developed in the 16th century. Played with a bow or plucked with the fingers, the violin is a chordophone used in numerous musical genres, including classical, folk, jazz, and contemporary music. Its design and sound have made it a staple in Western music traditions.
Volynka
The Volynka is a Russian and Ukrainian bagpipe with one or two drones. A type of aerophone, it has been played in Eastern European folk music for centuries, dating back to at least the 17th century. The Volynka is most commonly used in traditional dance music.
Vyola
The Vyola is a 4-5 string medieval instrument from Spain, played with a bow and related to the modern violin. As a chordophone, it dates back to the medieval period, from the 12th to the 15th centuries, and was used in early Spanish music, particularly in courtly and liturgical settings.
