ClipArt ETC

The Stringed Musical Instruments ClipArt gallery offers 125 illustrations of the banjo, bass, balalaika, banjo, cittern, crwth guitar, harp, lute, mandolin, violin, and other stringed instruments.

An illustration of Marloye's harp, used to show longitudinal vibrations in rods. It is made up a number of steel rods lined up vertically on an oblique-shaped board.

Marloye's Harp

An illustration of Marloye's harp, used to show longitudinal vibrations in rods. It is made up a number…

A player of the harp.

Harpist

A player of the harp.

This illustration depicts an ancient harpist.

Harpist

This illustration depicts an ancient harpist.

A harp is a stringed instrument of triangular form. The sculptures and ruins of the Egyptians and Syrians give evidence that it was a favorite instrument among them.

Ancient Egyptian Harps

A harp is a stringed instrument of triangular form. The sculptures and ruins of the Egyptians and Syrians…

The main instrument in ancient Chinese culture. It is a stringed instrument entirely unlike any other of which we have accounts, saving the Japanese ko-ko, which was most likely derived from it. The ke is strung with fifty strings of silk.

Ke

The main instrument in ancient Chinese culture. It is a stringed instrument entirely unlike any other…

A piano keyboard.

Keyboard

A piano keyboard.

The set of adjacent depressible levers on a musical instrument which cause the instrument to produce sounds.

Keyboard

The set of adjacent depressible levers on a musical instrument which cause the instrument to produce…

"The principle of the sound of silk is exemplified in the Kin or Ch'in, made of twisted silk being stretched over a wooden frame. The number of strings was five, to agree with the five elements; the upper part was rounded, to represent the heavens; the bottom was flat, to represent the ground. The number of strings was later increased to seven, which is the favored form, tuned to G, A, C, D, E, G, A, a pentatonic scale." --Baltzell, 1905

Kin

"The principle of the sound of silk is exemplified in the Kin or Ch'in, made of twisted silk being stretched…

Scene from the nursery rhyme, "King Cole."

King Cole

Scene from the nursery rhyme, "King Cole."

Kinnor is the Hebrew name for an ancient stringed instrument, the first mentioned in the Bible where it is now always translated harp. The kinnor had from ten to twenty string fastened to a metal rod lying along the face of the sounding board.

Kinnor

Kinnor is the Hebrew name for an ancient stringed instrument, the first mentioned in the Bible where…

Kinnor is the Hebrew name for an ancient stringed instrument, the first mentioned in the Bible where it is now always translated harp. The kinnor had from ten to twenty string fastened to a metal rod lying along the face of the sounding board.

Kinnor

Kinnor is the Hebrew name for an ancient stringed instrument, the first mentioned in the Bible where…

A kinnor, or old-fashioned harp.

Kinnor

A kinnor, or old-fashioned harp.

Kinura

Kinura

Kinura

Kinura

Kinura

Kinura

Kinura

Kinura

Kinura

Kinura, side view

Kinura

Kinura, side view

Kinura, front view

Kinura

Kinura, front view

Kinura

Kinura

Kinura

The koto is a traditional stringed musical instrument from Japan resembling a zither. Koto have 13 strings that are strung tautly across 13 movable bridges along the length of the instrument.

Koto

The koto is a traditional stringed musical instrument from Japan resembling a zither. Koto have 13 strings…

A stringed instrument formerly much in use.

Lute

A stringed instrument formerly much in use.

"The European lute is derived in form and name from the Arabic "el ud," "the wood," the consonant of the article "el" having been retained in the European languages for the initial of the name. The Arab instrument, with convex sound-body, pointing to the resonance board or membrane having been originally placed upon a gourd, was strung with silk and played with a plectrum of shell or quill. It was adopted by the Arabs from Persia." —The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1903

Lute

"The European lute is derived in form and name from the Arabic "el ud," "the wood," the consonant of…

"A lyre, one of the most ancient musical instruments of the stringed kind. The Greeks attributed the invention of the lyre to Mercury, who is said to have formed the instrument of a tortoiseshell, over which he placed gut-strings." — Smith, 1873

Lyra

"A lyre, one of the most ancient musical instruments of the stringed kind. The Greeks attributed the…

Timotheus's harp with nine strings

Lyre

Timotheus's harp with nine strings

A kind of harp much used by the ancients.

Lyre

A kind of harp much used by the ancients.

A stringed musical instrument well known for its use in Classical Antiquity.

Lyre

A stringed musical instrument well known for its use in Classical Antiquity.

This illustration shows an ancient lyre. It was fixed with 6 strings all tuned differently.

Lyre

This illustration shows an ancient lyre. It was fixed with 6 strings all tuned differently.

A stringed musical instrument well known for its use in Classical Antiquity. The recitations of the Ancient Greeks were accompanied by it.

Lyre

A stringed musical instrument well known for its use in Classical Antiquity. The recitations of the…

A stringed instrument well known for its use in Classical Antiquity. It was used mainly by the Ancient Greeks.

Lyre

A stringed instrument well known for its use in Classical Antiquity. It was used mainly by the Ancient…

A lyre

Lyre

A lyre

"Cithara or Phorminx, from a vase in the British Museum. Best period of Greek art." —The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1903

Lyre

"Cithara or Phorminx, from a vase in the British Museum. Best period of Greek art." —The Encyclopedia…

"Two forms of the old Greek lyre." -Foster, 1921

Lyre

"Two forms of the old Greek lyre." -Foster, 1921

A lyre, a stringed instrument commonly used in Greek Classical antiquity.

Lyre

A lyre, a stringed instrument commonly used in Greek Classical antiquity.

Egyptian lyre

Egyptian lyre

Egyptian lyre

"Greek lyres"

Greek lyres

"Greek lyres"

A man and woman sitting together. The man is playing the harp and perhaps singing.

Man Playing a Harp for a Woman

A man and woman sitting together. The man is playing the harp and perhaps singing.

An illustration of a man playing a guitar.

Man Playng Guitar

An illustration of a man playing a guitar.

An illustration of a man playing the violin.

Man Playing Violin

An illustration of a man playing the violin.

The strings of the mandolin are not plucked by the fingers like a guitar or harp, but with a little quill, or a shell plectrum. The strings are doubled to obviate the feebleness of the sound, but essentially to allow of a very rapid tremolo, which the player substitutes for sustained notes.

Mandolin

The strings of the mandolin are not plucked by the fingers like a guitar or harp, but with a little…

The mandolin, a stringed instrument of Italian origin.

Mandolin

The mandolin, a stringed instrument of Italian origin.

A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family (plucked, or strummed). It is descended from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. It has a body with a teardrop-shaped soundboard, or one which is essentially oval in shape, with a soundhole, or soundholes, of varying shapes which are open and are not decorated with an intricately carved grille like the Baroque era mandolins.

Mandolin

A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family (plucked, or strummed). It is descended from the…

An illustration of three men playing string instruments, one playing the cello and two playing the violin.

Three Men Playing String Instruments

An illustration of three men playing string instruments, one playing the cello and two playing the violin.

This stringed instrument is a combination of a banjo, guitar, and mandolin. Each of the heads that stick out of the fingerboard provides a separate set of metallic strings secured to the head and to a common tail piece.

Multiple Stringed Musical instrument

This stringed instrument is a combination of a banjo, guitar, and mandolin. Each of the heads that stick…

The set of four persons who perform a piece of music in four parts.

Quartet

The set of four persons who perform a piece of music in four parts.

The rebab is a string instrument originating in the Middle East. There are usually two or three strings. Shown here are spiked varieties which are to be played with a bow.

Rebab

The rebab is a string instrument originating in the Middle East. There are usually two or three strings.…

The rebab is a string instrument originating in the Middle East. There are usually two or three strings. Shown here are spiked varieties which are to be played with a bow.

Rebab

The rebab is a string instrument originating in the Middle East. There are usually two or three strings.…

The rebec is a bowed stringed instrument. It usually has three strings and is played under chin like a violin.

Rebec

The rebec is a bowed stringed instrument. It usually has three strings and is played under chin like…

A bowed string musical instrument. In its most common form, it has three strings and is played on the arm or under the chin, like a violin.

Rebec

A bowed string musical instrument. In its most common form, it has three strings and is played on the…

An old stringed instrument somewhat similar to the violin, having properly three strings tuned in fifths , and played with a bow. It was of Arabian or Turkish origin and was introduced by the moors into Spain.

Rebec

An old stringed instrument somewhat similar to the violin, having properly three strings tuned in fifths…

Triangular form of the harp

Sambuca

Triangular form of the harp

"A harp, was of oriental origin. The performances of sambucistriae were only known to the early Romans as luxuries brought over from Asia." — Smith, 1873

Sambuca

"A harp, was of oriental origin. The performances of sambucistriae were only known to the early Romans…

"Sarinda. A Hindu viol, which has a body made of a single wooden block, elliptical in general contour, flat in front and arched at the back, which is hollowed out to a shell." -Whitney, 1911

Sarinda

"Sarinda. A Hindu viol, which has a body made of a single wooden block, elliptical in general contour,…

This image depicts a man playing guitar.

Serenade

This image depicts a man playing guitar.

The shamisen or samisen is a Japanese stringed instrument played with a plectrum (a) called a bachi.

Shamisen

The shamisen or samisen is a Japanese stringed instrument played with a plectrum (a) called a bachi.

The Florentine Singer playing an old guitar.

The Florentine Singer

The Florentine Singer playing an old guitar.

A psaltry, a stringed instrument belonging to the harp family. Originated in Greece.

The psaltry

A psaltry, a stringed instrument belonging to the harp family. Originated in Greece.

The tsymbaly or santir is a dulcimer or chordophone used in the Ukraine and the Middle East.

Tsymbaly

The tsymbaly or santir is a dulcimer or chordophone used in the Ukraine and the Middle East.

The viola may be considered a large violin tuned a fifth lower or as a small cello tuned an octave higher. It resembles the violin except the fingers of the left hand are spread apart more.

Viola

The viola may be considered a large violin tuned a fifth lower or as a small cello tuned an octave higher.…

A stringed instrument played with a bow, having four strings tuned at intervals of a fifth, an unfretted fingerboard, and a shallower body than the viol and capable of great flexibility in range, tone, and dynamics.

Violin

A stringed instrument played with a bow, having four strings tuned at intervals of a fifth, an unfretted…

An instrument with four strings, played with a bow; a fiddle.

Violin

An instrument with four strings, played with a bow; a fiddle.

An illustration of a violin.

Violin

An illustration of a violin.