Musical Instruments

music · sound · creativity · tools

Made for music. A musical instrument is any object that's specially created or changed to make musical sounds. What makes it an instrument is the purpose, not the object itself, so even things like pots or sticks can become instruments when someone decides to play them musically.

Countless varieties. Musical instruments come in endless forms around the world, from guitars and pianos to drums, violins, flutes, and instruments from other cultures like sitars and didgeridoos. Each one makes sound in different ways, whether by plucking strings, blowing air, striking, or shaking.

The player matters. A person who plays a musical instrument is called an instrumentalist. An instrumentalist can be someone learning their first song or a famous musician performing in a concert hall.

Any sound works. Technically, any object that produces sound when you interact with it could be considered a musical instrument if you decide to make music with it. This means some instruments are traditional, while others are creative inventions.

Universal language. People all over the world have created musical instruments for thousands of years, making music one of the most universal forms of human expression and creativity.