The word cordophones is used to describe a type of musical instrument that produces sound by vibrating various strings and parts of the instrument. There are different types of chordophones, each having its own characteristics and classification. Here are some of them.
Ancient carvings of a chordophone
If you are a music buff, you will surely be aware that guitars and other stringed instruments have a long and rich history. In fact, there is archaeological evidence of their presence in the ancient Mesopotamia agglomerate, and some evidence of their presence in the early Neolithic world as well. Some of the oldest specimens are likely to be of Egyptian ancestry. Nevertheless, there is no evidence that these early pioneers were the fliers of their day. Certainly, the earliest surviving specimens come from Egypt. The following century, the aforementioned fliers were replaced by a more standardized albeit albeit ungainly version, the modern veena. Although there is some disagreement about the relative preeminence of these two instruments, their role in the music industry is well recognized and their sonic signatures are still felt today.
Common chordophones
A chordophone is a musical instrument with one or more strings that make a sound when played. There are several types of chordophones, the most common ones being the ukulele, guitar, banjo, harp and lute. All have distinct sounds.
A lute is a bowed string instrument that produces a mellow, warm tone. The lute is also the best-looking of the bowed instruments. It is also the most difficult to play.
The ‘Tata Vadya’ is an ancient Indian song that is said to have been accompanied by an ‘instruction’ containing the ‘Tata-Men-Mole-Motion’, a musical device that is a bit larger than the ‘Tata-Men-Mole-Motion’ but smaller than the ‘Tata-Men-Mole-Motion’. Despite the fact that the ‘Tata-Men-Mole-Motion’ is not as impressive as the ‘Tata-Men-Mole-Motion’, the ‘Tata-Men-Mole-Motion’ has a better name.
Characteristics of a chordophone
There are several instruments that are known as chordophones. They can be bowed, plucked, or strummed. Some instruments also have a resonance box or sounding board.
The simplest type of chordophone is the zither. This instrument is made of three strings – one that is bowed, and two that are plucked. However, there are other stringed instruments as well.
Chordophones are usually classified into two groups: those with resonators and those without resonators. Resonators are usually hollow. These hollows make the strings vibrate more easily. Often, a resonator is built into the body of the instrument. It also acts as a matching element between the strings and the air inside the instrument.
Chordophones with resonators have classification number 32. Other chordophones that do not have resonators have classification number 31.
Idiophones vs. chordophones
A musical instrument that produces sound by vibrations is called an idiophone. Its body is generally made of wood, metal or glass. Idiophones generate their sound by striking or shaking against other objects or by being struck or scraped against a solid object.
There are four major categories of idiophones. These include membranophones, which use a stretched membrane to produce sound, aerophones, which use air to create their sound, percussion idiophones, which create sound by being hit with non-vibrating objects, and xylophones, which are made up of vibrating strings. Each of these categories can be divided into sub-categories based on how it produces its sound.
The most basic idiophone is the monochord, which uses a single stretched string. Another idiophone is the harp, which has parallel strings that are not aligned with the soundboard.
Classification of chordophones
Chordophones are string based instruments, which produce sound by means of vibrating strings. There are five basic types.
Chordophones are classified according to their shape. The basic shapes include: vessel drums, membranophones, and friction drums. Some examples of chordophones are harps, pianos, and violins.
These instruments can be played by plucking the strings, blowing on them, or by bowing. Many of them can also be played by electronic circuits.
Chordophones are classified in two groups: simple and composite. Simple chordophones include zithers and lyres, which make sound by means of vibrating strings. Composite chordophones include lutes, harps, and harp lutes.
In addition to these groups, chordophones are subdivided into two more. They are classified as “simple” and “composite.”
Simple chordophones are those instruments with no resonators. Their classification number is 31. Other examples of simple chordophones are pianos, bar zithers, and rafts.