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Musical Instruments By Letter

Want to learn more about an instrument – or discover new ones?

Find instruments alphabetically:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Mandolin

A small, stringed instrument of the lute family. It has a pear shaped body, strings in four pairs and a neck similar to a guitar.
Pronunciation:
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Maracas

A rattle which appears in many genres of Caribbean and Latin music

*Usually considered a traditional instrument of Latin America.

Pronunciation:
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Marimba

A percussion instrument that consists of a set of tuned wooden bars arranged like a piano keyboard. A series of hollow tubes beneath the bars allows the sound to resonate. The bars are struck with mallets.
Pronunciation:
Example:


Mbira

Traditional to the Shona people of Zimbabwe, a mbira is usually made of a wooden board with attached metal tines, and is played with the thumbs.

*Usually considered a traditional instrument of Africa.

Pronunciation:
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Metallophone

A percussion instrument with a series of metal bars of varying pitch suspended over a resonance box. The instrument is struck with a hammer or mallet.


Mridangam 

A wooden double-headed drum, originally from southern India.

*Usually considered a traditional instrument of Indonesia.

Pronunciation:
Example:


Musical Bow

A simple string instrument used by a number of South African peoples, that consists of a flexible stick and strung end to end with a taut cord, usually metal. It can be played with the hands or a wooden stick or branch.

*Usually considered a traditional instrument of Africa.

Pronunciation:


Instruments Whose Names Start With M