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Would you like to talk about your favorite band in English but do not know how to refer to different instruments of music? Perhaps you play a musical instrument and would love to be able to tell your English-speaking friends about this. Or maybe you simply want to add some music vocabulary to your repertoire. Whatever your needs, being able to mention the English names of musical instruments will greatly improve your vocabulary and assist you in your day-to-day conversations.
List of Musical Instruments
A musical instrument is an instrument 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.
Here is a comprehensive list of musical instruments of different types.
- Trombone
- Saxophone
- Trumpet
- Tuba
- French horn
- Clarinet
- Microphone
- Harp
- Recorder
- Keyboard
- Xylophone
- Maracas
- Bell
- Harmonica
- Accordion
- Bass drum
- Banjo
- Double bass
- Cello
- Violin
- Piano
- Guitar
- Bass guitar
- Conga
- Snare drum
- Drums/ Drum set
Musical Instruments Names with Pictures and Examples
Trombone
A trombone is a brass musical instrument that uses a slide to change the length of the tubing, producing different pitches.
- Example: The musician played a soulful solo on the trombone during the jazz concert.
Saxophone
A saxophone is a woodwind musical instrument that uses a reed and a series of keys to produce a wide range of notes. It is commonly used in jazz and classical music.
- Example: The saxophonist played a smooth and mellow tune on the saxophone during the concert.
Trumpet
A trumpet is a brass musical instrument that uses a series of valves to produce different pitches. It is commonly used in orchestras, jazz bands, and military bands.
- Example: The trumpet player hit a high note during the performance, impressing the audience with their skill.
Tuba
A tuba is a large brass musical instrument with a deep, rich sound. It is commonly used in orchestras and brass bands.
- Example: The tuba player provided a strong and steady bass line during the performance.
French horn
A French horn is a brass musical instrument with a flared bell and a long, coiled tube. It is commonly used in orchestras and wind ensembles.
- Example: The French horn player played a beautiful melody during the romantic ballad.
Clarinet
A clarinet is a woodwind musical instrument that uses a single reed and a series of keys to produce a wide range of notes. It is commonly used in orchestras, jazz bands, and military bands.
- Example: The clarinet player played a beautiful solo during the slow and melancholic piece.
Microphone
A microphone is a device used for recording or amplifying sound. It converts sound waves into an electrical signal that can be transmitted through a cable or wirelessly.
- Example: The singer held the microphone close to her mouth and sang her heart out to the audience.
Harp
A harp is a stringed musical instrument that has a triangular frame and is played by plucking the strings with the fingers. It is commonly used in classical and folk music.
- Example: The harpist played a soothing melody on the harp during the wedding ceremony.
Recorder
A recorder is a woodwind musical instrument that uses a whistle mouthpiece and finger holes to produce different notes. It is commonly used in music education and early music ensembles.
- Example: The music teacher taught the students how to play the basic notes on the recorder during the music lesson.
Keyboard
A keyboard is a musical instrument that uses a set of keys to produce different pitches. It can refer to a piano keyboard or a synthesizer keyboard.
- Example: The musician played a beautiful melody on the electronic keyboard during the concert.
Xylophone
A xylophone is a percussion musical instrument that consists of a set of wooden bars of varying lengths that are struck with mallets to produce different pitches.
- Example: The child played a simple tune on the xylophone during the music class.
Maracas
Maracas are a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow gourd or plastic shells filled with beads or seeds, which are shaken to produce a rattling sound.
- Example: The musician shook the maracas to add a lively rhythm to the salsa music.
Bell
A bell is a percussion instrument that produces a ringing sound when struck or shaken. It can be made of metal, glass, or other materials.
- Example: The church bell rang out across the town, signaling the start of the Sunday service.
Harmonica
A harmonica is a small, handheld wind instrument that uses reeds and a series of holes to produce different pitches. It is commonly used in blues, folk, and country music.
- Example: The musician played a soulful tune on the harmonica during the street performance.
Accordion
An accordion is a portable musical instrument that uses a series of bellows and buttons or keys to produce different pitches. It is commonly used in folk music.
- Example: The musician played a lively polka on the accordion during the festival.
Bass drum
A bass drum is a large percussion instrument that produces a deep, booming sound when struck with a mallet or pedal. It is commonly used in orchestras, marching bands, and rock music.
- Example: The drummer hit the bass drum with great force, adding a powerful beat to the rock song.
Banjo
A banjo is a stringed musical instrument that has a round body and a long neck with frets. It is commonly used in folk, bluegrass, and country music.
- Example: The musician played a lively tune on the banjo during the hoedown.
Double bass
A double bass is a large stringed musical instrument that has a deep, resonant sound. It is played with a bow or plucked with the fingers and is commonly used in orchestras and jazz bands.
- Example: The double bass player provided a strong and steady bass line during the symphony.
Cello
A cello is a stringed musical instrument that is larger than a violin and smaller than a double bass. It is played with a bow or plucked with the fingers and is commonly used in orchestras and chamber music.
- Example: The cellist played a beautiful solo during the romantic piece.
Violin
A violin is a stringed musical instrument that is played with a bow or plucked with the fingers. It has a high-pitched sound and is commonly used in orchestras and chamber music.
- Example: The violinist played a beautiful melody during the classical concert.
Piano
A piano is a musical instrument that has a keyboard and produces sound by striking strings with hammers. It is commonly used in classical, jazz, and popular music.
- Example: The pianist played a beautiful sonata on the grand piano during the recital.
Guitar
A guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is played with the fingers or a pick. It has a flat or curved body and a long neck with frets. It is commonly used in many genres of music, including rock, pop, and classical.
- Example: The guitarist played a soulful solo on the acoustic guitar during the ballad.
Bass guitar
A bass guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is similar in appearance to a guitar, but produces a lower-pitched sound. It has four or more strings and is commonly used in many genres of music, including rock, funk, and jazz.
- Example: The bass guitarist provided a strong and steady rhythm during the rock concert.
Conga
A conga is a tall, narrow percussion instrument that is played with the hands. It has a single drumhead and is commonly used in Latin American and Afro-Cuban music.
- Example: The percussionist played a lively rhythm on the conga during the salsa dance.
Snare drum
A snare drum is a small, shallow percussion instrument that has a drumhead on the top and a series of wires or strings on the bottom that produce a rattling sound when the drum is struck.
- Example: The drummer played a sharp and crisp beat on the snare drum during the military parade.
Drums/ Drum set
A drum is a percussion instrument that consists of a hollow cylinder or bowl with a drumhead on the top or both ends. It is played by striking the drumhead with hands or sticks.
- Example: The drummer played a thunderous beat on the drum during the rock concert.
List of 100+ Common and Unique Musical Instruments
- Violin
- Viola
- Cello
- Double Bass
- Harp
- Guitar (Acoustic)
- Guitar (Electric)
- Ukulele
- Banjo
- Mandolin
- Lute
- Zither
- Lyre
- Sitar
- Sarod
- Santoor
- Bouzouki
- Balalaika
- Shamisen
- Koto
- Pipa
- Erhu
- Rebab
- Charango
- Oud
- Piano
- Grand Piano
- Upright Piano
- Organ (Pipe)
- Electric Organ
- Synthesizer
- Keyboard
- Harpsichord
- Clavichord
- Celesta
- Trumpet
- Cornet
- French Horn
- Trombone
- Tuba
- Euphonium
- Flugelhorn
- Sousaphone
- Bugle
- Mellophone
- Flute
- Piccolo
- Clarinet
- Bass Clarinet
- Oboe
- English Horn
- Bassoon
- Contrabassoon
- Recorder
- Pan Flute
- Saxophone (Alto)
- Saxophone (Tenor)
- Saxophone (Baritone)
- Duduk
- Shakuhachi
- Bansuri
- Native American Flute
- Sheng
- Snare Drum
- Bass Drum
- Timpani
- Bongos
- Congas
- Djembe
- Cajón
- Tabla
- Mridangam
- Drum Kit
- Tambourine
- Maracas
- Castanets
- Claves
- Triangle
- Cymbals
- Gong
- Xylophone
- Glockenspiel
- Marimba
- Vibraphone
- Agogo Bells
- Cowbell
- Chimes
- Steelpan
- Handpan
- Slit Drum
- Theremin
- Drum Machine
- Sampler
- Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
- Electric Drum Pad
- Loop Station
- Didgeridoo
- Kalimba
- Mbira
- Berimbau
- Shehnai
- Taiko Drums
- Tumbi
- Hurdy-Gurdy
- Guqin
- Dhol
- Siku
- Hardanger Fiddle
- Jaw Harp
- Accordion
See practice: Musical Instruments Worksheets
List of Instruments of Music Video
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