Chordophone

/ˈkɔːr.doʊ.foʊn/ noun

Definition

Any musical instrument that produces sound by vibrating strings, such as guitars, violins, pianos, and harps.

Etymology

From Greek 'chordē' (string) plus 'phōnē' (sound). Created in the early 20th century to classify stringed instruments scientifically.

Kelly Says

The Hornbostel-Sachs system organizes all world instruments into categories, and 'chordophone' groups everything from a single string to a piano's thousands of wires!

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