a box-like musical instrument that is held in both hands and is played by squeezing and stretching it while pressing its keys
Examples
agogo
agogo
/æɡˈoʊɡoʊ/
noun
a Latin and African musical instrument consisting of one or multiple bells that are played by hitting them with a wooden piece
Examples
alpenhorn
alpenhorn
/ˈælpənhˌɔːɹn/
noun
a 12-feet-long wooden horn that was originally used by Swiss herdsmen for signaling in the Alps
Examples
autoharp
autoharp
/ˌɔːɾoʊhˈɑːɹp/
noun
a musical instrument resembling a small harp that employs a button-controlled mechanism for selecting chords
Examples
bagpipe
bagpipe
/ˈbæɡˌpaɪp/
noun
a woodwind instrument with a reed and several sticks, played by squeezing a bag and blowing through one of its pipes, originated from Scotland
Examples
balafon
balafon
/bˈælæfən/
noun
a large xylophone that is used in Western African music and uses hollow gourds as resonators
Examples
balalaika
balalaika
/bˌælɐlˈeɪkə/
noun
a stringed musical instrument from Russian origin with a triangular body and three strings
Examples
banjo
banjo
/ˈbænˌdʒoʊ/
noun
a stringed musical instrument with a circular body and a long neck
Examples
barrel organ
barrel organ
/bˈæɹəl ˈɔːɹɡən/
noun
a mechanical musical instrument which produces a particular tune by turning a handle
Examples
bassoon
bassoon
/bəˈsun/
noun
a woodwind instrument of the oboe family consisting of a long wooden tube and a double reed
Examples
bouzouki
bouzouki
/bˈuːzaʊki/
noun
a stringed musical instrument of Greek origin with a long neck and round body
Examples
brass
brass
/ˈbɹæs/
noun
any musical instrument that is made of metal, such as the trombone and the trumpet
Examples
bugle
bugle
/ˈbjuɡəɫ/
noun
a brass instrument resembling a small trumpet, without any valves or keys, used for military calls
Examples
castanets
castanets
/kˈæstɐnˌɛts/
noun
(plural) percussion instruments consisting of a pair of small shells made of wood, ivory or plastic that are fastened to the thumb and clicked together using the fingers
Examples
celesta
celesta
/sɪˈɫɛstə/
noun
a musical instrument with a small keyboard in which hammers hit a row of steel plates, producing a bell-like sound
Examples
cello
cello
/ˈtʃɛɫoʊ/
noun
a large musical instrument of the violin family that is held upright and is played by pulling a bow across its strings
Examples
Celtic harp
Celtic harp
/kˈɛltɪk hˈɑːɹp/
noun
a small harp that is used in Irish or Scottish folk music
Examples
cimbalom
cimbalom
/sˈɪmbæləm/
noun
a large musical instrument with a trapezoidal box or board in which strings are stretched, played by fingers or two small hammers
Examples
cittern
cittern
/sˈɪtɚn/
noun
a stringed instrument that was popular during the Renaissance with a pear-shaped body and a neck that was thicker under the treble strings
Examples
clarinet
clarinet
/ˌkɫɛɹəˈnɛt/
noun
a musical instrument with a mouthpiece and keys, which is played by blowing into it
Examples
clavichord
clavichord
/ˈkɫævəˌkɔɹd/
noun
a Western European keyboard instrument producing soft tones, especially used in the 18th century
Examples
concertina
concertina
/kɑnsɝˈtinə/
noun
a small polygonal instrument that resembles an accordion which is played by pressing keys and pulling and pushing its sides
Examples
conga drum
conga drum
/kənɡˈæ dɹˈʌm/
noun
a single-barreled drum that is tall and narrow and is beaten by hands, from Cuban origin
Examples
cor anglais
cor anglais
/kˈoːɹ ˈæŋɡleɪ/
noun
a woodwind instrument like an oboe that has a lower pitch and larger size
Examples
cornet
cornet
/kɔɹˈnɛt/
noun
a brass instrument like a small trumpet that produces a mellower tone
Examples
cornetto
cornetto
/kɔːɹnˈɛɾoʊ/
noun
an early wind instrument with a cup-shaped mouthpiece, a conical tube and holes that are covered by the fingers
Examples
crotales
crotales
/kɹˈoʊɾeɪlz/
noun
a percussion instrument consisting of small brass or bronze disks, or cymbals, hit with hard mallets each producing a different note
Examples
cymbal
cymbal
/ˈsɪmbəɫ/
noun
a percussion instrument in the form of a round metal plate that is played either by hitting a pair together or hitting one with a drumstick
Examples
descant recorder
descant recorder
/dˈɛskænt ɹɪkˈoːɹdɚ/
noun
a woodwind musical instrument in the most common size that produces a high range of notes
Examples
didgeridoo
didgeridoo
/dˈɪdʒɹɪdˌuː/
noun
an Australian wind instrument consisting of a large bamboo or wooden tube that is played by blowing while using circular breathing technique
Examples
double bass
double bass
/dˈʌbəl bˈeɪs/
noun
the largest member of the violin family in the modern symphony orchestra that produces the lowest pitch
Examples
drum
drum
/ˈdɹəm/
noun
a musical instrument consisting of a hollow, round frame with plastic or skin stretched tightly across one or both ends, played by hitting it with sticks or hands
Examples
drum machine
drum machine
/dɹˈʌm məʃˈiːn/
noun
an electronic musical instrument that stimulates percussion sounds, drum beats and patterns
Examples
drum pad
drum pad
/dɹˈʌm pˈæd/
noun
an electronic musical instrument that simulates the sound of a drum kit when hit by a drumstick
Examples
dulcimer
dulcimer
/ˈdəɫsɪmɝ/
noun
a stringed musical instrument with a trapezoidal board or box that is played by hitting the metal strings with a pair of light hammers
Examples
English horn
English horn
/ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ hˈɔːɹn/
noun
a woodwind instrument like an oboe that has a lower pitch and larger size
Examples
euphonium
euphonium
/juːfˈoʊniəm/
noun
a large brass instrument resembling a small tuba that has 3 or 4 valves and produces a tenor voice
Examples
fiddle
fiddle
/ˈfɪdəɫ/
noun
a bowed string musical instrument that is placed under the chin to be played, usually used in folk music
Examples
fife
fife
/ˈfaɪf/
noun
a small high-pitched flute with six or eight finger holes that is played along with drums in a military band
Examples
flugelhorn
flugelhorn
/flˈuːɡəlhˌɔːɹn/
noun
a brass instrument resembling a small trumpet with a larger bore and a mellower tone
Examples
flute
flute
/ˈfɫut/
noun
a tube-like musical instrument that is played by blowing over a hole while covering and uncovering its other holes
Examples
French horn
French horn
/fɹˈɛntʃ hˈɔːɹn/
noun
a brass instrument with a curl in its tube and a flared bore that is played by valves
Examples
fuzzbox
fuzzbox
/fˈʌzbɑːks/
noun
a device that is used to give a distortion to the sound produced by an electric guitar or other instruments