Musical Instruments Study Guide

General

97 answers | 552 clues

Must-Know (27)

the harp 18x 17.6% stumper $788 avg J:8 DJ:9 FJ:1

J $300 1994 With 7 pedals & over 40 strings, it has one of the largest ranges of any orchestral instrument

DJ $600 1987 Instrument with strings & pedals that you tilt towards you to play

DJ $1,600 2009 As a verb, this musical instrument means "to dwell upon persistently & tediously"

the guitar 18x 16.7% stumper $483 avg J:7 DJ:11

J $300 1987 Christopher Parkening, Django Reinhardt, & Joan Jett

J $600 2010 Its 6 strings are traditionally tuned to E-A-D-G-B-E

DJ $1,000 DD 1987 19th century instrument maker Antonio Torres is responsible for the modern design of this

the trumpet 17x 23.5% stumper $559 avg J:13 DJ:4

J $100 1987 Instrument played by band leaders Ray Anthony, Louis Prima, & Maynard Ferguson

J $500 1996 Jazz musician Arturo Sandoval is famous for playing this brass instrument

DJ $1,200 2009 Herb Alpert

the clarinet 16x 6.2% stumper $594 avg J:9 DJ:7

J $200 2022 Enjoy the beauty of this woodwind in Mozart's Concerto in A major featuring it

DJ $800 2009 Benny Goodman

DJ $1,200 2006 Perfected by Johann Denner, this woodwind now comes in many pitches, including the B-flat soprano

the piano 16x 6.2% stumper $700 avg J:9 DJ:7

J $200 1991 In 1768 Johann Christian Bach gave the first public recital on this new keyboard instrument

J $500 1988 Beethoven wrote many solo pieces for this instrument which can be 7-10 feet long

DJ $1,600 2025 In the mid-1800s Vienna had more than 100 companies making these, including Bösendorfer, which is still there

the ukulele 14x $486 avg J:10 DJ:4

J $100 1999 Derived from a Portuguese guitar called a machete, it was introduced into Hawaii in the late 19th century

DJ $600 1996 The Portuguese machete is the ancestor of this Hawaiian instrument

DJ $2,000 2017 The song "My Dog Has Fleas" is often used to tune its 4 strings, G-C-E-A

the banjo 14x 21.4% stumper $571 avg J:5 DJ:9

J $300 1996 "Dixie" composer Daniel Decatur Emmett was a virtuoso on this vellum-bellied instrument

DJ $800 1987 3 types of this instrument are the tenor, plectrum, & 5-string

DJ $1,000 1984 Plucked instrument brought to U.S. by slaves, now a fixture in bluegrass

the violin 13x 15.4% stumper $708 avg J:9 DJ:4

J $200 1994 It's the smallest member of the family of instruments that includes the cello

DJ $800 2017 Presidents Thomas Jefferson & John Tyler were both skillful players of this instrument

DJ $1,600 2006 Isaac Stern was overwhelmed at how well Meryl Streep learned to play this for her film "Music of the Heart"

the bagpipes 13x 7.7% stumper $615 avg J:6 DJ:7

J $100 1998 Instrument you're most likely to hear at the Braemar Gathering & other Highland Games

J $500 1995 This instrument consists of a chanter, drones & an air reservoir

DJ $1,200 2013 An old joke says that golf was invented by the same people who think that music comes out of these

the cello 13x 7.7% stumper $685 avg J:7 DJ:6

J $200 2005 Cancel long periods praciticing with this string instrument or your fingers will get tired

J $500 1991 Born in Paris of Chinese parents, Yo-Yo Ma is a virtuoso on this instrument

J $1,000 2011 Jacqueline du Pre made an acclaimed Carnegie Hall debut May 14, 1965 playing Elgar's concerto for this instrument

the balalaika 12x $1,042 avg J:5 DJ:7

J $300 1992 This 3-stringed Russian instrument was developed from the domra, which has a longer neck

J $500 DD 1997 This triangular Russian instrument is normally played with the fingers or a leather plectrum

J $1,000 DD 2022 Seen here, it's often considered the national instrument of Russia

steel drums 12x 8.3% stumper $433 avg J:7 DJ:5

J $400 2013 Phil Collins, in Genesis

J $800 2014 It's time for Mick Fleetwood, Mac

DJ $1,000 1987 Considered the national instrument of Trinidad, types include cello, guitar, bass & ping pong

the sitar 12x $775 avg J:7 DJ:5

J $400 2006 This long-necked lute of India is played with a plectrum

J $500 1996 This long-necked, plucked Hindu instrument with 5 melody strings is a type of lute

J $1,000 DD 2015 The Ravi Shankar & Vilayat Khan are methods of teaching this instrument

the trombone 11x 10.0% stumper $1,050 avg J:3 DJ:7 FJ:1

J $200 1992 The tenor version of this instrument with a sliding tube is the most often played

DJ $800 2020 Heard here, this instrument has a bell joint that passes over the player's left shoulder

DJ $1,200 2016 Bandleader Glenn Miller was also a virtuoso on this brass instrument

the bass 11x 9.1% stumper $500 avg J:9 DJ:2

J $200 1996 When Stu Sutcliffe left the Beatles, Paul took over playing this instrument

J $600 2025 Jaco Pastorius & Tina Weymouth laid it down

J $800 2013 Flea, in the Red Hot Chili Peppers

the harpsichord 11x 9.1% stumper $818 avg J:5 DJ:6

J $300 1994 Handel wrote "The Harmonious Blacksmith" for this predecessor of the piano

J $800 2007 It's the instrument heardheregoing solo in a Bach concerto

DJ $1,200 2020 The strings of the clavichord were struck by small blades; this "chord" was the first keyboard instrument to work by plucking

the saxophone 10x $580 avg J:4 DJ:6

DJ $400 2009 John Coltrane

J $600 2013 Clarence Clemons, of Bruce's E street Band; we miss you, big man

DJ $1,000 1993 Freddy Martin, Boots Randolph & John Coltrane

the mandolin 10x 30.0% stumper $1,000 avg J:4 DJ:6

J $600 2011 This instrument heardhereprecedes "rain" in a Bruce Hornsby title

DJ $1,600 2017 Bluegrass virtuosos of this small lutelike instrument include Bill Monroe & Ricky Skaggs

DJ $600 1991 The Neapolitan type of this lute-like instrument is tuned the same as a violin

a harmonica 9x 37.5% stumper $625 avg J:3 DJ:5 FJ:1

J $200 2010 Bob Dylan often plays one of these, also called a mouth organ

J $600 2009 Blow in & out:NO CHAIR MA

DJ $1,600 2020 Hohner makes the Bob Dylan signature model of this instrument that Bob plays

the accordion 9x 33.3% stumper $822 avg J:3 DJ:6

J $400 1992 A standard piano type has 41 keys, 120 bass buttons, from 2 to 15 registers & a bellows

J $800 2009 Oh, it bellows:RANCID COO

DJ $1,200 2014 In 1829 Cyrill Demian patented this portable reed organ & coined its name

the viola 9x 11.1% stumper $500 avg J:6 DJ:3

DJ $400 2021 A violin & this both have 4 strings, but a violin is just a tad smaller, with E as the high string, as opposed to A

J $600 2026 Pinchas Zukerman also plays this instrument a bit bigger than his usual one & says heavier bow, thicker strings, you adjust

J $1,000 2013 In "Twelfth Night", she's Sebastian's twin

cymbals 8x $375 avg J:6 DJ:2

J $100 1994 Tiny versions of these metal instruments are worn on the fingers of belly dancers

J $500 1992 The Zildjian family in Turkey have made these instruments for more than 300 years; they're sold in pairs

J $100 1994 The American Heritage Dictionary entry for "clash" mentions these instruments

the tuba 8x $575 avg J:3 DJ:5

J $300 1994 Used in military bands, the large-bored euphonium is a type of this brass instrument

DJ $600 1991 The Sousaphone is basically the same as this instrument but coiled in a circle

DJ $1,000 1987 This is the bass voice in the brass section of a concert band

the oboe 8x 25.0% stumper $1,238 avg J:5 DJ:3

J $200 1988 One name for this woodwind, "hautboy", is from the French meaning "high wood"

J $800 2009 On film, Danny Kaye called this reed instrument "an ill wind that no one blows good"

DJ $3,000 DD 2004 An old word for this wind instrument is spelledH-A-U-T-B-O-Y

a flute 8x 28.6% stumper $700 avg J:5 DJ:2 FJ:1

J $300 1993 Popular with amateur musicians, the recorder is a type of this woodwind

DJ $600 1989 Herbie Mann could tell you the recorder is a type of this instrument

J $1,000 2013 Ian Anderson, of Jethro Tull; Ron Burgundy played a jazz one

the organ 8x 25.0% stumper $525 avg J:5 DJ:3

J $400 2012 Made by Wurlitzer beginning in the early 1900s, the "unit orchestra" was one of these instruments

J $500 1988 On this "wind" instrument, tone quality is set by depressing tabs or by pulling out stop knobs

J $1,000 2005 Neither Bilbo nor Gandalf knew any cool tunes on this

the bassoon 8x 12.5% stumper $750 avg J:5 DJ:3

J $300 1987 This woodwind, called the clown of the orchestra, "plays" the grandfather in "Peter & the wolf"

J $600 2022 It's the low-end woodwind seenherethat's held aslant on a sling when played

J $1,000 2007 Of the woodwinds in a standard symphony orchestra, it's the closest to the size of the person playing it

Should-Know (25)

castanets 7x $471 avg J:4 DJ:3

J $100 1990 From Spanish for "chestnuts", they put the beat in flamenco

DJ $800 2004 The name of these paired concussion instruments is from the Spanish for "chestnut"

DJ $1,200 2002 This shell-shaped instrument is more than an accompaniment to flamenco dancing, it's a part of the dance itself

a triangle 7x $457 avg J:6 DJ:1

J $200 2000 This bent steel rod struck by a small metal rod is used in the final movement of Beethoven's Ninth

J $800 2013 Don't be obtuse! okay, be obtuse if you're one of these figures, or even isosceles if you'd like

DJ $1,600 2013 The balalaika of Russia has a body of this shape

a tambourine 7x $629 avg J:5 DJ:2

J $200 2009 Hey, Mr.! It's a shallow frame drum with a single head & metal discs fitted into the walls of the frame

DJ $800 1992 The timbrel, mentioned in the King James Bible, is one of these hand-held percussion instruments

J $1,000 2005 In The Byrds' "Mr. ___ Man"

Stradivarius 6x $600 avg J:2 DJ:4

J $200 1991 Both Andrea Guarneri & this most famous violin maker were trained by Nicola Amati

DJ $600 1992 He made his last violin in 1737 at the age of 93 in Cremona, Italy

DJ $800 2020 Trumpets made by Vincent Bach are so well-respected, this violin maker's name was added to the name of some models

the bugle 6x $450 avg J:4 DJ:2

J $200 2011 The first official list of military calls for this trumpet-like valveless instrument was issued in 1798

DJ $1,600 2021 "Boogie Woogie ____ Boy"by Bette Midler

J $200 1998 Musical instrument ineptly played by private Hannibal Dobbs on the TV series "F Troop"

a piccolo 6x $500 avg J:2 DJ:4

DJ $200 1987 Orchestral scores in French might refer to this instrument as the "petit flute"

DJ $600 1997 This orchestral instrument is an octave higher than an ordinary flute

DJ $400 1997 James Galway has performed in several orchestras playing the flute & this smaller relative

sleigh bells 6x 16.7% stumper $467 avg J:4 DJ:2

DJ $200 1991 As Mike Oldfield proved in his 1974 best-selling album, these instruments can be "Tubular", man

J $500 2001 Percussion instrument whose possible changes for a set of five are seen here

J $500 1990 A glockenspiel sounds like these, "glocken" being the German word for them

the zither 6x 16.7% stumper $817 avg J:4 DJ:2

J $100 1993 Common instruments run from A-accordion to Z- this fretted instrument with 22-45 strings

J $800 2022 Head to the end of the alphabet for this stringed instrument that has a fretted fingerboard

DJ $1,000 1992 In 1950 Anton Karas had a hit with his recording of "The Third Man" theme on this instrument

the Glockenspiel 6x 50.0% stumper $3,783 avg J:1 DJ:5

DJ $800 2007 If you're a master with a glock, you could be an assassin or a player of this percussion instrument

J $1,000 2012 In "The Magic Flute" the music for Papageno's magic bells is performed on this German-named instrument

DJ $15,700 DD 2017 German for "play of bells", it has 2 rows of metal bars with the upper row corresponding to the black keys on a piano

the fife 6x 16.7% stumper $617 avg J:4 DJ:2

J $300 1993 Played since the Crusades, this side-blown flute is often paired with drums

DJ $800 2022 In 1861 Harper's Weekly reported Major Anderson left Fort Sumter with "Yankee Doodle" being played by drum & this

DJ $1,600 2006 Often played with drums, it's held horizontally, has 6 finger holes & was developed in Switzerland

a steel drum 6x 16.7% stumper $583 avg J:3 DJ:3

DJ $200 1995 The way the lacing is arranged on this type of instrument adds tension to the head

J $800 2005 In Linda Ronstadt's "Different ___"

J $800 2010 Fashioned from empty oil containers during WWII, it's Trinidad & Tobago's national instrument

a xylophone 5x $620 avg J:4 DJ:1

J $200 1993 The name of this instrument consisting of different-size bars is from the Greek for "wood sound"

J $500 1991 A marimba is a large, more mellow-sounding one of these instruments

DJ $1,600 2024 The gambang is an Indonesian version of this percussion instrument that's struck with sticks or mallets

a sousaphone 5x $580 avg J:4 DJ:1

J $200 1986 The large tuba common to marching bands, it was invented by John Philip Sousa

J $800 2026 Named for a band conductor, it's the marching band instrument being played here

J $300 1996 To make it lighter, this instrument named for "The March King" is sometimes made of fiberglass

the lute 5x 20.0% stumper $2,600 avg J:2 DJ:3

J $300 1997 The name of this stringed instrument is derived from Arabic al-ud

J $500 1998 Medieval instrument heard here

DJ $2,000 2021 A renaissance man known as "Il Divino" was a master of this round-bodied 4-letter instrument that often has 2 G strings

the dulcimer 5x 40.0% stumper $900 avg J:1 DJ:4

DJ $200 1989 Its name comes from the Latin words "dulce melos" meaning sweet song

J $500 1993 The name of this stringed instrument, which is played on the lap, is from the Latin for "sweet song"

DJ $1,000 1996 The Appalachian this is a 3-stringed zither that's played in the lap

a concertina 5x 40.0% stumper $1,480 avg DJ:5

DJ $800 1995 In 1829 Sir Charles Wheatstone invented this hexagonal accordion-like instrument

DJ $2,000 2016 Sir Charles Wheatstone patented this instrumentthat was largely replaced by the accordion

DJ $600 1991 This small bellows instrument was patented by Sir Charles Wheatstone

timpani 5x $660 avg J:4 DJ:1

J $400 2005 When told he'd be playing these drums with the band, Tim panicked

J $600 2011 A pedal mechanism allows this large orchestral drum to be tuned to different pitches

J $1,000 2022 This set of big drums gets its name from the Italian for "kettledrums"

a calliope 5x 20.0% stumper $540 avg J:3 DJ:2

DJ $200 1987 A.S. Denny's invention of this steam organ in the 1850s created quite a circus atmosphere

DJ $800 1993 Powered by steam & used on riverboats, this keyboard instrument's sound can carry over 10 miles

J $1,000 2011 This steam-whistle organ was often used on 19th century Mississippi steamboats to announce their arrival at ports

maracas 4x $525 avg J:3 DJ:1

J $100 1993 Almost always played in pairs, these rattles originated among the Indians of South America

J $600 2009 Modern versions of these Latin American rattles contain lead shot rather than beads or seeds

DJ $1,000 1989 Typically, these Latin American rattles contain seeds or beads, but some modern ones are filled with lead shot

a marimba 4x 25.0% stumper $1,850 avg J:1 DJ:3

J $1,000 2021 An orchestral one of these African instruments looks like a xylophone mounted on legs

DJ $1,600 2012 (Kelly of the Clue Crew presents the clue from the Lesedi Cultural Village in South Africa.) This word that's now associated with Latin American music comes from Africa, where it describes many types of xylophones like these

DJ $2,000 2020 A man of many instruments, Brian Jones used this African xylophone for the hook on The Rolling Stones' "Under My Thumb"

a kazoo 4x 25.0% stumper $375 avg J:3 DJ:1

J $100 1986 All you need to play this is your voice vibrating the tissue paper membrane inside it

J $500 1999 Toy instrument played by Paul McCartney on Ringo Starr's 1974 hit "You're Sixteen"

DJ $400 2014 The kids' product Band in a Bucket includes this short tube you blow into to make a buzzy sound

synthesizer 4x $625 avg J:2 DJ:2

DJ $400 2020 The Fairlight CMI type of this electronic instrument is heard on many '80s songs like "Shock the Monkey" & "Shout"

J $800 2021 An engineer named Robert Moog developed this instrument in the 1960s

J $500 2000 Tony Banks, Rick Wakeman, Thomas Dolby

gong 4x 25.0% stumper $625 avg J:2 DJ:2

DJ $400 2006 Striking one of these metal discs, perhaps the tam-tam, yields a highly resonant sound; just ask Chuck Barris

J $500 1985 If you put J. Arthur Rank's, Donald Duck's, & Chuck Barris' together, you might have a bonang

DJ $1,200 2021 "Bang A ____(Get It On)" by T. Rex

a lyre 4x $500 avg J:1 DJ:3

DJ $400 2006 Terpsichore, the muse of dance, is usually depicted holding this stringed instrument

J $800 2005 Carefully replace the strings on this ancient instrument

DJ $400 2004 No, it's true! A crwth is a Welsh version of this ancient stringed instrument

a fiddle 4x 25.0% stumper $450 avg J:2 DJ:2

J $200 2011 The OED says this word for a violin is "only in familiar or contemptuous use"

DJ $1,200 2025 The album titled "True Bluegrass" this 4-string instrument features greats like Bobby Hicks & Kenny Baker

J $200 2013 Proverbially, if you're in perfect health, you're "fit as" one of these

Worth Knowing (45)

Wales 3 Japan 3 bongos 3 Benjamin Franklin 3 the ocarina 3 the bow 3 an electric guitar 3 a reed 3 a clapper 3 a bass drum 3 the vibraphone 3 the slide 3 a soprano sax 3 the didgeridoo 3 violins 2 Triangular 2 the French horn 2 the flugelhorn 2 spoons 2 silk 2 reeds 2 player piano 2 pianoforte 2 Jew's harp 2 India 2 bouzouki 2 banjos 2 bamboo 2 a Tom Tom 2 a drum 2 a cymbal 2 4 2 76 trombones 2 the recorder 2 the pan flute 2 the kettledrums 2 the clavichord 2 the bagpipe 2 the Alpenhorn 2 a steel guitar 2 Spanish guitars 2 an elephant 2 a contrabassoon 2 a bell 2 an autoharp 2

Musical Instruments Study Guide

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