Musical Instruments

Musical instruments 

Brief notes on musical instruments, it's classification

Musical instruments:

A musical instrument is a device created or adapted to make musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can be considered a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates to the beginnings of human culture. Early musical instruments may have been used for ritual, such as a horn to signal success on the hunt, or a drum in a religious ceremony. Cultures eventually developed composition and performance of melodies for entertainment. Musical instruments evolved in step with changing applications and technologies.

Musical instruments, it's classification:

Instruments are classified using 5 different categories depending on the manner in which the instrument creates the sound: Idiophones, Membranophones, Chordophones, Aerophones, & Electrophones.

Idiophones

Sound is produced by the body of the instrument vibrating, rather than a string, membrane, or column of air.

Struck – clapping, cymbals, xylophones, bells, rattles Plucked – thumb piano, jaw harp Friction – friction sticks Blown – blown sticks Unclassified

 

Membranophones

Sound is produced by the vibration of a tightly stretched membrane.

Struck – drums (many varieties) Plucked – plucked drums (a string is attached to the membrane and causes the vibration) Friction – friction drums (rubbed rather than struck or instruments in which a cord is attached to the membrane and rubbed) Singing – kazoos Unclassified

Bowed instrument Bowed instrument

Chordophones

Sound is produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed points.

Simple/Zither – musical bows, zithers Composite – lutes, harps, tube fiddle, violins, viola, cello, bass, guitars Unclassified

Aerophones

Sound is produced by vibrating air.

Free – early organs, accordion, harmonica Non-free – flutes, recorder, oboes, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba Unclassified

Electrophones

Sound is produced by electric action or amplification.

By N. ARUN ADHAVEN, Roll No: 3, VII A