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The symbol for the violin makers' guild in 1716.

Guild Symbol

The symbol for the violin makers' guild in 1716.

A musical instrument having a large flat-backed sound box, a long fretted neck, and usually six strings, played by strumming or plucking.

Guitar

A musical instrument having a large flat-backed sound box, a long fretted neck, and usually six strings,…

"French guitar of 17th century. GUITAR. A musical instrument of the lute class, having usually six strings stretched over a violin-shaped body, and a long neck and finger-board combined." -Whitney, 1911

French Guitar

"French guitar of 17th century. GUITAR. A musical instrument of the lute class, having usually six strings…

An Anglo-Saxon harp.

Harp, Anglo-Saxon

An Anglo-Saxon harp.

An Assyrian Harp.

Harp, Assyrian

An Assyrian Harp.

A tube bent into a spiral (for convenience in holding) comparatively narrow near the mouthpiece, and gradually enlarging to the bell; it is therefore a conical pipe

Horn

A tube bent into a spiral (for convenience in holding) comparatively narrow near the mouthpiece, and…

A tenor clarinet, pitched in F, having a wider bell and greater range than a standard clarinet.

Basset Horn

A tenor clarinet, pitched in F, having a wider bell and greater range than a standard clarinet.

Keras

Keras

Keras

Keras

Keras

Keras

Enriches the piano with special effects, but necessarily deprives the player of the use of the ordinary pedals of the instrument

Piano with Pedal Key board

Enriches the piano with special effects, but necessarily deprives the player of the use of the ordinary…

"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…

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

Timotheus's harp with nine strings

Lyre

Timotheus's harp with nine strings

A decorative divider with lyres and ribbon.

Lyre Divider

A decorative divider with lyres and ribbon.

Egyptian lyre

Egyptian lyre

Egyptian lyre

An illustration of a man standing looking down at a trombone on the floor of a bedroom.

Man and Trombone

An illustration of a man standing looking down at a trombone on the floor of a bedroom.

An illustration of a man playing the accordion.

Man Playing Accordion

An illustration of a man playing the accordion.

An illustration of a man playing the bagpipes.

Man Playing Bagpipes

An illustration of a man playing the bagpipes.

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.

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 masks and a saxophone.

Theater Masks & Saxophone

An illustration of masks and a saxophone.

An illustration of two men in a band playing trombones.

Two Men Playing Trombones

An illustration of two men in a band playing trombones.

A small French bagpipe operated with a bellows and having a soft sound.

musette

A small French bagpipe operated with a bellows and having a soft sound.

The engraving, Music from 'Mirrour of the World' by William Caxton, the first English printer.

Music

The engraving, Music from 'Mirrour of the World' by William Caxton, the first English printer.

A musical instrument is an object constructed or used for the purpose of making the sounds of music. In principle, anything that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the beginnings of human culture. The academic study of musical instruments is called organology.

Musical Instrument

A musical instrument is an object constructed or used for the purpose of making the sounds of music.…

Conical tube, in which the column of air is made to vibrate by means of a double reed, that is to say, two reeds placed opposite each to other. It is made of wood and the fingering is just like the flute

Oboe

Conical tube, in which the column of air is made to vibrate by means of a double reed, that is to say,…

Although it has a few higher notes, the practical range of this instrument must be limited. Its tone is rude and coarse; it has little suppleness, and it lacks in precision of tune.

Ophicleide

Although it has a few higher notes, the practical range of this instrument must be limited. Its tone…

"The Ophicleide is a wind instrument of metal, invented to supersede the serpent in the orchestra and in military bands."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Ophicleide

"The Ophicleide is a wind instrument of metal, invented to supersede the serpent in the orchestra and…

An instrument consisting of a number of pipes that sound tones when supplied with air and a keyboard that operates a mechanism controlling the flow of air to the pipes

Organ

An instrument consisting of a number of pipes that sound tones when supplied with air and a keyboard…

A musical instrument with a manual keyboard actuating hammers that strike wire strings, producing sounds that may be softened or sustained by means of pedals.

Piano

A musical instrument with a manual keyboard actuating hammers that strike wire strings, producing sounds…

The piano is a musical instrument which is played by means of a keyboard. Widely used in Western music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music, and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal. Although not portable and often expensive, the piano's versatility and ubiquity have made it one of the world's most familiar musical instruments.

Keyboard Piano

The piano is a musical instrument which is played by means of a keyboard. Widely used in Western music…

A piano having the strings mounted vertically in a rectangular case with the keyboard at a right angle to the case.

Upright Piano

A piano having the strings mounted vertically in a rectangular case with the keyboard at a right angle…

Smaller than the flute but sounds one octave higher.

Piccolo

Smaller than the flute but sounds one octave higher.

Pipe with seven reeds

Pipe with seven reeds

Pipe with seven reeds

A woman plays a Greek funeral pipe in the funeral procession of Hector.

Greek Funeral Pipe

A woman plays a Greek funeral pipe in the funeral procession of Hector.

Also known as the syrinex is the earliest example of a graduated series of open-pipes, with a very obvious resemblance to a flute stop

Pan's pipes

Also known as the syrinex is the earliest example of a graduated series of open-pipes, with a very obvious…

A Cor A piston can produce with equal facility the seven series of harmonies belonging to the common horns

Cor A Piston

A Cor A piston can produce with equal facility the seven series of harmonies belonging to the common…

This is a tenor trombone having instead of the slide a system of pistons, like those of the horn and cornet, which renders it much more manageable.

Trombone A Piston

This is a tenor trombone having instead of the slide a system of pistons, like those of the horn and…

The instrument requiring the least study; also the most commonplace of the instruments.

Cornet A Pistons

The instrument requiring the least study; also the most commonplace of the instruments.

The trompette a pistons is to the ordinary trumpet as the chromatic horn to the simple horn: the transformation is the same. it has been slightyly modified by the addition of the pistons.

Trompette A' Pistons

The trompette a pistons is to the ordinary trumpet as the chromatic horn to the simple horn: the transformation…

A long and slender drum, which is beaten with one stick; it produces therefore only isolated sounds which have a certain rhythm but never a roll

Tambourin Provencal

A long and slender drum, which is beaten with one stick; it produces therefore only isolated sounds…

An illustration of a raccoon playing an accordion and a rabbit dancing.

Raccoon Playing Accordion & Rabbit Dancing

An illustration of a raccoon playing an accordion and a rabbit dancing.

Or the Chinese Violin was a piece of bamboo which forms the stick; at the heel this bamboo is pierced with a hole through which passed a mesh of hair secured by a knot; in this way the stick is curved, whence its name, a bow.

Ravanastron

Or the Chinese Violin was a piece of bamboo which forms the stick; at the heel this bamboo is pierced…

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.…

Roman Bacchhante playing castanets

Roman Bacchhante

Roman Bacchhante playing castanets

Triangular form of the harp

Sambuca

Triangular form of the harp

"Sansa. An African musical instrument which consists of a sounding-board of some hard wood with strips of iron, or occasionally bamboo, fastened to it so as to leave one end free to vibrate." -Whitney, 1911

Sansa

"Sansa. An African musical instrument which consists of a sounding-board of some hard wood with strips…

"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,…

A brass instrument, with a conical tube and double reed, having a resemblance to the oboe and the bassoon, thoughj with a richer timbre.

Sarrusophone

A brass instrument, with a conical tube and double reed, having a resemblance to the oboe and the bassoon,…

The saxhorn is a brass instrument with: a, mouthpiece; b, valves; c, keys; d, bell; e, crook.

Saxhorn

The saxhorn is a brass instrument with: a, mouthpiece; b, valves; c, keys; d, bell; e, crook.

A valved brass wind instruments that resemble the bugle and have a full even tone and wide compass.

Alto Saxhorn

A valved brass wind instruments that resemble the bugle and have a full even tone and wide compass.

The saxophone is a musical instrument of the clarinet class in the woodwind family.

Saxophone

The saxophone is a musical instrument of the clarinet class in the woodwind family.

Saxophone with a pitch between the Soprano and Tenor

Alto Saxophone

Saxophone with a pitch between the Soprano and Tenor