Music has many different instruments, from strings and keyboards to drums, winds, and traditional instruments from around the world. If you are looking for instruments names for learning, music projects, school work, writing, or general reference, a large organized list makes the search much easier. This list includes 430+ instruments names from classical music, modern bands, orchestras, folk traditions, percussion, electronic music, and world cultures. The names are grouped into simple categories so you can quickly find the type of instrument you need.
String Instruments
String instruments create sound through vibrating strings. They are some of the most popular instruments in music.
- Acoustic Guitar
- Electric Guitar
- Classical Guitar
- Bass Guitar
- Twelve-String Guitar
- Seven-String Guitar
- Resonator Guitar
- Lap Steel Guitar
- Pedal Steel Guitar
- Slide Guitar
- Ukulele
- Banjo
- Mandolin
- Mandola
- Mandocello
- Lute
- Harp
- Concert Harp
- Celtic Harp
- Lyre
- Zither
- Dulcimer
- Hammered Dulcimer
- Psaltery
- Sitar
- Sarod
- Tanpura
- Veena
- Rudra Veena
- Swarmandal
- Koto
- Shamisen
- Biwa
- Guzheng
- Pipa
- Ruan
- Yueqin
- Sanxian
- Yangqin
- Qin
- Violin
- Viola
- Cello
- Double Bass
- Piccolo Violin
- Five-String Violin
- Hardanger Fiddle
- Fiddle
- Baroque Violin
- Baroque Viola
- Baroque Cello
- Viol
- Viola da Gamba
- Viola d’Amore
- Violine
- Violone
- Octobass
- Rebec
- Vielle
- Erhu
- Zhonghu
- Gaohu
- Jinghu
- Gehu
- Morin Khuur
- Sarangi
- Esraj
- Dilruba
- Ravanhatha
- Kokyu
Keyboard Instruments
Keyboard instruments can produce melodies, chords, harmonies, and complex arrangements.
- Piano
- Grand Piano
- Upright Piano
- Digital Piano
- Electric Piano
- Player Piano
- Toy Piano
- Prepared Piano
- Harpsichord
- Clavichord
- Spinet
- Virginal
- Organ
- Pipe Organ
- Church Organ
- Theater Organ
- Reed Organ
- Pump Organ
- Hammond Organ
- Electric Organ
- Electronic Organ
- Accordion
- Button Accordion
- Piano Accordion
- Melodica
- Harmonium
- Celesta
- Claviorganum
- Chamber Organ
- Portative Organ
- Snare Drum
- Bass Drum
- Tom-Tom
- Floor Tom
- Tenor Drum
- Marching Snare
- Timpani
- Concert Bass Drum
- Rototom
- Frame Drum
- Hand Drum
- Tambourine
- Bongos
- Congas
- Djembe
- Darbuka
- Doumbek
- Tabla
- Mridangam
- Pakhawaj
- Kanjira
- Ghatam
- Udu
- Cajón
- Bodhrán
- Taiko
- Surdo
- Repinique
- Timbales
- Cuíca
- Agogô
- Maracas
- Shaker
- Cabasa
- Guiro
- Claves
- Castanets
- Wood Block
- Temple Blocks
- Cowbell
- Triangle
- Finger Cymbals
- Cymbals
- Crash Cymbal
- Ride Cymbal
- Hi-Hat
- Splash Cymbal
- China Cymbal
- Gong
- Tam-Tam
Tuned Percussion Instruments
These percussion instruments can produce recognizable musical pitches and are common in orchestras and ensembles.
- Xylophone
- Marimba
- Vibraphone
- Glockenspiel
- Metallophone
- Tubular Bells
- Orchestra Bells
- Crotales
- Steelpan
- Hang
- Handpan
- Lithophone
- Glass Harmonica
- Glass Armonica
- Boomwhackers
- Bell Tree
- Bell Lyra
- Musical Saw
- Waterphone
- Rattles
Brass Instruments
Brass instruments use the player’s lips and air to create vibrations. They are common in orchestras, marching bands, jazz, and popular music.
- Trumpet
- Cornet
- Flugelhorn
- French Horn
- Mellophone
- Alto Horn
- Tenor Horn
- Baritone Horn
- Euphonium
- Trombone
- Bass Trombone
- Valve Trombone
- Slide Trombone
- Tuba
- Sousaphone
- Wagner Tuba
- Bugle
- Bass Trumpet
- Pocket Trumpet
- Piccolo Trumpet
- Natural Trumpet
- Natural Horn
- Serpent
- Ophicleide
- Cornett
- Flute
- Piccolo
- Alto Flute
- Bass Flute
- Contrabass Flute
- Recorder
- Soprano Recorder
- Alto Recorder
- Tenor Recorder
- Bass Recorder
- Oboe
- English Horn
- Oboe d’Amore
- Bass Oboe
- Clarinet
- E-Flat Clarinet
- Bass Clarinet
- Alto Clarinet
- Contrabass Clarinet
- Saxophone
- Soprano Saxophone
- Alto Saxophone
- Tenor Saxophone
- Baritone Saxophone
- Bass Saxophone
- Contrabass Saxophone
- Bassoon
- Contrabassoon
- Heckelphone
- Sarrusophone
Flutes and Folk Winds
These instruments come from different musical traditions and often have distinctive regional sounds.
- Pan Flute
- Quena
- Shakuhachi
- Ney
- Xiao
- Dizi
- Bansuri
- Native American Flute
- Tin Whistle
- Low Whistle
- Penny Whistle
- Fife
- Ocarina
- Gemshorn
- Fula Flute
- Kaval
- Duduk
- Zurna
- Shehnai
- Nadaswaram
- Suona
- Hichiriki
- Taepyeongso
- Suling
- Saluang
- Appalachian Dulcimer
- Mountain Dulcimer
- Banjo Ukulele
- Tenor Banjo
- Irish Bouzouki
- Greek Bouzouki
- Octave Mandolin
- Balalaika
- Domra
- Bandura
- Kobza
- Gusli
- Bouzouki
- Charango
- Cuatro
- Tres
- Tiple
- Requinto
- Ronroco
- Jarana
- Vihuela
- Bajo Sexto
- Guitarrón
- Cavaquinho
- Viola Caipira
- Berimbau
- Kora
- Ngoni
- Mbira
- Kalimba
- Likembe
- Mvet
- Krar
- Masenqo
- Oud
- Rabab
- Qanun
- Santur
- Setar
- Tar
World Instruments
Music traditions around the world include instruments with unique designs, playing techniques, and cultural histories.
- Didgeridoo
- Djimbe
- Talking Drum
- Bata Drum
- Ashiko
- Atabaque
- Bougarabou
- Dundun
- Kpanlogo
- Ewe Drum
- Ngoma Drum
- Darbuka Drum
- Bendir
- Riqq
- Daf
- Frame Tambourine
- Mirliton
- Kazoo
- Jaw Harp
- Jew’s Harp
- Mouth Harp
- Kalangu
- Udu Drum
- Slit Drum
- Log Drum
- Water Drum
- Seed Rattle
- Rainstick
- Guiro
- Agogo Bell
Traditional Asian Instruments
Asian musical traditions feature a wide range of string, wind, percussion, and keyboard-like instruments.
- Shamisen
- Koto
- Biwa
- Shakuhachi
- Sho
- Hichiriki
- Taiko Drum
- Tsuzumi
- Kokyu
- Gayageum
- Geomungo
- Haegeum
- Daegeum
- Piri
- Danso
- Yanggeum
- Guzheng
- Erhu
- Pipa
- Ruan
- Dizi
- Xiao
- Suona
- Sheng
- Hulusi
- Sitar
- Sarod
- Tabla
- Tanpura
- Bansuri
- Veena
- Sarangi
- Shehnai
- Santoor
- Esraj
- Dilruba
- Rubab
- Nadaswaram
- Mridangam
- Ghatam
- Synthesizer
- Modular Synthesizer
- Analog Synthesizer
- Digital Synthesizer
- Sampler
- Drum Machine
- Groovebox
- Keytar
- Theremin
- Ondes Martenot
- Electronic Drum Kit
- Electronic Keyboard
- MIDI Keyboard
- MIDI Controller
- Launchpad
- Digital Accordion
- Digital Wind Instrument
- Electronic Violin
- Electric Cello
- Electric Viola
- Electric Harp
- Electric Mandolin
- Electric Sitar
- Bass Synthesizer
- Guitar Synthesizer
- Vocoder
- Talkbox
- Ribbon Controller
- Seaboard
- Stylophone
Rare and Unique Instruments
These unusual instruments can add surprising textures and sounds to music.
- Theremin
- Waterphone
- Hang Drum
- Glass Armonica
- Musical Saw
- Singing Bowl
- Steel Tongue Drum
- Kalimba
- Sansula
- Array Mbira
- Chapman Stick
- Warr Guitar
- Pikasso Guitar
- Harpejji
- Chapman Railboard
- Nyckelharpa
- Hurdy-Gurdy
- Crwth
- Hardanger Fiddle
- Daxophone
- Apprehension Engine
- Eigenharp
- Reactable
- Otamatone
- Stylophone
- Laser Harp
- Ondes Musicales
- Trautonium
- Glass Marimba
- Pyrophone
- Bass Recorder
- Contrabass Recorder
- Sopranino Recorder
- Bass Ocarina
- Concertina
- Bandoneon
- Melodeon
- Harmonica
- Chromatic Harmonica
- Diatonic Harmonica
Final Thoughts
These 430 instruments names cover a wide range of musical traditions, from familiar guitars, pianos, violins, and drums to unusual instruments such as the waterphone, theremin, nyckelharpa, and glass armonica. The categories make it easier to browse different families and discover instruments from around the world.
Whether you need instruments names for a school project, music lesson, writing idea, quiz, band research, or general knowledge, this list gives you a useful starting point. From classical orchestras to modern electronic music, there is an instrument for almost every musical style.
Eddy is a professional content writer with over 10 years of experience creating engaging, informative, and reader-focused content across a wide range of topics. Throughout his career, he has developed a strong reputation for producing well-researched, original, and easy-to-understand articles that help readers find the information they need quickly and confidently.
