All About Musical Instruments

Do you know how to play an instrument? A musical instrument is a device that creates sound. Most instruments are made for the purpose of creating music. Mankind has made and played musical instruments for thousands of years; ancient drums made from clay have been found by Scientists. Although you cannot classify all instruments (because there are so many different types), there are four basic categories that most can be classified into: percussion, string, wind, and keyboard. Percussion instruments are usually used to create a rhythm and produce sound by being struck with sticks or your hands, such as the drums. Cymbals, xylophones, and tambourines are all examples of percussion instruments. String instruments create sounds when the strings are plucked. Examples of stringed instruments are guitar, bass, violin, banjo, and cello. Wind instruments create sound when air is forced through them, usually by the mouth of the person playing the instrument. In some wind instruments, a small piece of wood, or reed, vibrates when played and creates different sounds. The flute, recorder, and bagpipes are all wind instruments. The smallest, functioning instrument is most likely a type of wind instrument, such as the piccolo. Lastly, keyboard instruments, such as the piano, accordion, or organ, create sounds when the musician pushes on a key. Some keyboard instruments could also be classified in one of the other categories, because they use wind or string methods to create sound. An electric keyboard uses digital sounds to create music. The largest musical instruments ever built are pipe organs. The two largest in the World are located here in the United States. One is in Atlantic City, and the other is located in a department store in New York City.

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