Mark Henderson answered
There are five basic types of musical instrument, into which nearly all instruments can be classified. Some instruments belong to several groups, and almost all instruments can be electrified and therefore could belong in the electrophone group. Instruments such as the piano could be classed as a percussion, stringed and in the shape of a keyboard or E-piano, electronic instrument.
1. Drums (membranophones)
- These instruments generate their sound by a vibrating membrane, such as a drum skin. They are a form of percussion instrument and are played by striking the membrane. Examples include bass drums, tom toms and snare drums.
2. Percussion (Idiophones)
- Idiophones are percussion instruments which do not use membranes such as a drum skin to produce their sound. Instead they produce noise by the instrument itself vibrating. Most percussion instruments which are not drums are idiophones, such as wood blocks, xylophones and maracas.
3. Wind instruments (Aerophones)
- Aerophones produce sound by vibrating columns of air without the use of a membrane or strings. This category includes both brass and woodwind instruments. Examples are clarinet, trumpet, pipe organ and tuba.
4. Stringed instruments (Chordophones)
- Stringed instruments use vibrating strings strung between two points to produce their sound. The string can be plucked, strummed, bowed, or struck with a hammer to achieve this. Examples include violin, guitar, piano and banjo.
5. Electronic instruments (Electrophones)
- Electronic instruments produce their sound through the amplification of an audio signal. Electronic instruments can encompass many different groups, for example an electric guitar is both a stringed and electronic instrument. They are extremely useful for the manipulation of an instrument's sound to create effects which would not be possible from an acoustic instrument. Examples include synthesizers, electric guitars and drum machines.
1. Drums (membranophones)
- These instruments generate their sound by a vibrating membrane, such as a drum skin. They are a form of percussion instrument and are played by striking the membrane. Examples include bass drums, tom toms and snare drums.
2. Percussion (Idiophones)
- Idiophones are percussion instruments which do not use membranes such as a drum skin to produce their sound. Instead they produce noise by the instrument itself vibrating. Most percussion instruments which are not drums are idiophones, such as wood blocks, xylophones and maracas.
3. Wind instruments (Aerophones)
- Aerophones produce sound by vibrating columns of air without the use of a membrane or strings. This category includes both brass and woodwind instruments. Examples are clarinet, trumpet, pipe organ and tuba.
4. Stringed instruments (Chordophones)
- Stringed instruments use vibrating strings strung between two points to produce their sound. The string can be plucked, strummed, bowed, or struck with a hammer to achieve this. Examples include violin, guitar, piano and banjo.
5. Electronic instruments (Electrophones)
- Electronic instruments produce their sound through the amplification of an audio signal. Electronic instruments can encompass many different groups, for example an electric guitar is both a stringed and electronic instrument. They are extremely useful for the manipulation of an instrument's sound to create effects which would not be possible from an acoustic instrument. Examples include synthesizers, electric guitars and drum machines.