African musical instruments are classified into four groups namely; idiophones, chordophones, aerophones and membranophones. What are African Chordophone instruments? Chordophones.
What are the instruments used in African music?
- Akonting Daniel Jatta ©Daniel Jatta/npr.com. Mbira.
- Mbira ©wikimedia.com. Kora.
- One of Africa's many musical instruments, the African lute, called the kora © wikimedia.org. Balafon.
- Balafon ©wikimedia.org. Ekwe.
- Ekwe/Tamtam ©wikipedia.org. Udu.
- Udu ©Sitao Yang/Pinterest.
- Algaita ©Wikimedia Commons.
- Bass Marimba ©Wikimedia Commons.
What are some traditional African instruments?
Musical instruments
- Rhythmic idiophones. Among the vast array of nonmelodic, rhythmic idiophones, the most common and widespread are probably rattles, sounded by shaking.
- Slit drums. ...
- Xylophones. ...
- Lamellaphones. ...
What instruments are used in Africa?
20 African Music Instruments
- Tanzania Whistle: It is considered as two tone wooden whistle.
- Nyanga Pan Pipes: This African music instrument is a set of four instruments from Mozambique. ...
- Xhosa Uhadi bows: The scale is made harmonic series that results from overtones of two notes that are played on single string.
What are the different classifications of musical instruments?
The original Sachs–Hornbostel system classified instruments into four main groups:
- idiophones, such as the xylophone, which produce sound by vibrating themselves;
- membranophones, such as drums or kazoos, which produce sound by a vibrating membrane;
- chordophones, such as the piano or cello, which produce sound by vibrating strings;
- aerophones, such as the pipe organ or oboe, which produce sound by vibrating columns of air.
What are the 4 instrument categories?
These characteristics ultimately divide instruments into four families: woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings.
What are the four African musical instruments?
Most widely spread and played instruments in Africa are the drum, the xylophone, the mbira, rattles and shakers. The one-string musical bow, played all over the continent but now nearly abandoned, was once responsible for all the vocal scales that are used today in African music.
What are the musical instruments of Africa?
African musical instruments include a wide range of drums, slit gongs, rattles and double bells, different types of harps, and harp-like instruments such as the Kora and the ngoni, as well as fiddles, many kinds of xylophone and lamellophone such as the mbira, and different types of wind instrument like flutes and ...
What are the five classification of traditional African instruments?
Instruments are classified using 5 different categories depending on the manner in which the instrument creates the sound: Idiophones, Membranophones, Chordophones, Aerophones, & Electrophones.
What are African instruments?
African musical instruments range from simple hand-held objects to large and more elaborate instruments made of many pieces. Throughout history, African peoples across the continent used music for many important purposes. It wasn't just for entertainment.
What are the instruments used in African music?
Among the most important African instruments are drums and other percussion. They're used in almost all African cultures for ceremonies and rituals, some of which involve dancing. African music uses all sorts of rattles and shakers. These instruments are portable and hand-held, and they effectively provide rhythm.
What is a Balafon made of?
The balafon is similar to a xylophone. It's made of wood, gourds, and vines. Wooden keys or planks are cut in several sizes and attached to gourds that sit beneath them, all of which are attached to a large frame. When a musician hits the keys with mallets, the sound echoes in the gourd.
What are some examples of rhythm instruments?
These instruments are portable and hand-held, and they effectively provide rhythm. One example is a shekere. Made of a dried and hollowed out gourd, it is covered with a net that has beads or small shells woven into it. When the gourd is hit or shaken, the beads or shells hit against the surface and make a sound.
What is a kalimba?
The kalimba, or thumb piano, is a small portable instrument made of metal or bamboo strips attached to a wooden box or block. Now you know something about several kinds of African instruments. Maybe you'll want to find a kalimba or djembe and play some music of your own. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
What instruments were used in the funeral process?
People made instruments from materials available to them, like wood, gourds, animal horns and skins.
What is the significance of the Balafon?
In the traditions of some African cultures, the balafon has ceremonial importance related to funerals and mourning. Members of the Susa people of West Africa playing a djembe, left, and a balafon, at right, 1931.
What are the different types of African instruments?
Classification of African musical instruments. African music instruments are divided into five main categories: aerophones, membranophones, idiophones, chordophones, and percussion. Aerophones refer to wind instruments; chordophones are all instruments with strings; idiophones are those that can be rattled or shaken ;
What were the limitations of African music?
In some particular African communities, there were limitations as to who could play or handle African music instruments. Such restrictions were based on age, gender, and social status. Musical instruments in Africa were created from readily available materials such as animal skin or horns, gourds, wood, turtle sheets, and metal.
What is the Bolon instrument?
The Bolon is a traditional chordophone instrument native to various ethnic groups in West Africa. This African instrument is played by communities such as Senufo, Mandinka, Kissi in Guinea, Banbara, Susu, and Fulbe. It is played by plucking the strings distended between two points.
How many keys does a Mbira have?
It has several names in different countries such as sanza, agidigbo, Caribbean marimbula, ikembe, sansu, likimba, mbla and Kisanji.A conventional Mbira comprises at least 22 to 28 metal keys fixed on to a hardwood soundboard. However, some have as little as 6-8 keys, and others up to 36 keys.
What is the oldest instrument in the world?
The bafalon is also referred to as balani, bala, balaphong, balangi ,and balafo. It is one of the oldest musical instruments that dates as far back as the 14th century. 3. Bolon.
Where did the djembe come from?
Photo: Jack Vartoogian. Source: Getty Images. The djembe is one of the finest African percussion instruments to come out of West Africa. It represents a goblet-shaped drum that was made over 800 years ago by the Mandé tribe in Mali.
Where was the Kora instrument discovered?
After its discovery in Gambia, the chordophone instrument made its way to other African nations like Senegal, Bissau, Burkina Faso, and Mali. The Kora has been around for more than 5000 years and was a valuable accompaniment during storytelling, singing, and poem recitations. Read also.
What are the most popular instruments in Africa?
Drums: This is one of the most popular African music instruments that are usually used in special ceremonies in the Greater of Africa. Kalimba: It appears in different continent with various names and features. Balafon: They use this as their form of communication.
What is the most common instrument used in African culture?
Sanza: This is usually used in Western culture. Rhythm Gourd: This is a percussion instrument that is made of Cowrie shells. Rattles: This African music instrument is commonly used during sacred ceremonies. This is one of the reasons why it plays a vital role in African religions.
What is the Kora instrument?
The total number of strings differs between regions going sometimes to 21 or 24. The Kora is built from a huge calabash cut in half and covered with cow skin. Shakers: This African music instrument adds the spice to African music.
What is the name of the African music instrument that is made of solid wood with skin heads?
Mini Ashikos: It is made of solid wood with skin heads that produce traditional sound. Bells: Just like rattles, this African music instrument is also used during ceremonial or ritual functions. Tanzania Whistle: It is considered as two tone wooden whistle.
What is the name of the percussion instrument derived from tribal language?
Balafon: They use this as their form of communication. Udu: The name of this percussion instrument derived from tribal language which means pottery . Zulu Hide Drum: It is a hand drum that is covered in Kudu hide. Boba: It is the richest and lowest sounding drum in Africa.
What is the shell of a djembe made of?
The shell is made of a hard wood and the shaved skin is stretched over the head of the drum with the use of metal chord and rings. Read more about the Djembe here. Kora: This African music instrument originates from West Africa. It is a string instrument often likened in that sense to a harp.
What is the difference between Xhosa Uhadi bows and Kudu Horns?
Xhosa Uhadi bows: The scale is made harmonic series that results from overtones of two notes that are played on single string. This African music instrument will encourage you to explore new horizons. Kudu Horns: It is a set of six horns that represent cross pollination of musical traditions.
What are the most popular instruments in Africa?
Here is The List of 10 Most Popular African Musical Instruments. 1. The Kora. The Kora probably stands out as one of the most famous stringed instruments. It may also come in terms such as “Jali”. The design of the instruments is almost similar to that of a guitar.
What is the name of the instrument that is used to vary the pitch of a pitch?
To vary the pitch or sound, the player presses or squeezes the narrow edge. 4. The Balafon. The Balafon resembles the xylophone or African Marimba. It is a percussion instrument normally found in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
What is a Kalimba?
Also referred to as a thumb piano, the Kalimba consists of strips placed on a resonator. The strips come in varied lengths. A sound is produced by plucking the ends of the flexible strips. The original Kalimba was made from bamboo strips. However, modern instruments come with metal strips. The resonator is made from wood. It is popularly found in west and central Africa.
How is a Marimba made?
Marimba. The Marimba is a type of African Xylophone. It is made by placing small planks of wooden planks on a wooden box (resonator). The different-sized planks are secured loosely using a piece of chord/string. Sound is produced by hammering the planks using sticks or mallets.
What is a Mbira?
The Mbira is a thumb piano that resembles the Kalimba. It is made up of two rows of metal strips that come in staggered dimensions. They are placed on a wooden resonator (sound box). It is most common in East and Southern Africa. The countries include Namibia, Zambia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania.
What is the name of the drum used to draw water from the river?
7. Udu. The Udu is a type of drum that has its roots in Nigeria. It resembles the vessels or jars used to draw water from the river. Unlike most percussion instruments, it is made from clay instead of wood. The sound or pitch is influenced by the hollow, size, and also the style of playing. 8.
Where is the Algaita wind instrument found?
The Algaita is a popular wind instrument found in West Africa. It is closely related to yet another popular wind instrument known as “Oboe”. Unlike the “Oboe”, the Algaita comes with a wider opening at the base as well as open finger holes. It is made from reeds.
What instruments are used in African music?
African compositions come enriched with different instruments, such as slit gongs, double bells, drums, harps, fiddles, flutes, trumpets, and xylophones, to name a few. The continent has since advanced its art to produce even better music equipment, inspiring international trends in the process.
Why is it harder to distinguish African instruments?
However, it is becoming harder to distinguish African instruments because they are slowly losing their native touches. Their sophistication and frequent use in international theatres are proof enough that Africa deserves more credit. Image: instagram.com, @guzostories. Source: Instagram.
What is the name of the double reed wind instrument?
Image: instagram.com, @researchandculturalcollections. Source: Instagram. Algaita is another famous double-reed wind instrument from West Africa, commonly favourite in international Jazz compositions. The Kanuri people of Nigeria are the founders if this timeless art of music, but it is also common among the Hausa.
What is the Djembe?
Djembe is a masterpiece of art from Mali's Mandinke caste of blacksmiths called Numu. This rope-tuned skin-covered drum comes with a unique goblet design that makes it portable, and it is played with bare hands. The instrument spread quickly in the thirteenth century to neighbouring states such as Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ivory Coast, and Senegal.
What is a marimba?
Marimba, made of wooden bars struck with rubber or yarn mallets to produce musical tones, is renowned for its harmonious notes that follow the patterns of a piano.
What is the instrument called in Senegal?
Akoting (Senegal) Image: instagram.com, @elderlyinstruments. Source: Instagram. Akoting, also called Akonting, is a Senegalese musical instrument now making airwaves in different music genres. This folk lute of the Jola tribe is also used in other West African states such as the Gambia and Guinea Bissau.
What is an African fiddle?
African fiddle, like a violin, is a unique musical instrument with a bowed string. The orutu of Luo ethnicity and Ong’eng’o of Kisii tribe are among the most famous in East Africa. Fiddles are also common in the Saharan region, where they have been present for centuries, now as Ethiopian Masinko and the Berber Ribab.
What is the most widely accepted classification of musical instruments?
But, the most widely accepted classification of musical instruments is the way they produce sound. The study of musical instruments is known as organology. If you are interested in learning musical instruments, you must familiarize yourself with all of their types.
What is a musical instrument?
Musical instruments are special devices that produce various tunes and melodies, which combine to form music. In fact, any object or device that can create a harmonious sound can be regarded as a musical instrument.
How to play an oboe?
To play, hold it in an upright position and blow through the mouthpiece as you use both your hands to press down on the keys, opening and closing the holes to produce a range of pitches – from hauntingly beautiful melodies to velvety smooth notes – making the whole experience quite a memorable one.
How do wind instruments make different sounds?
Some wind instruments also have little holes at the edges. When the musician blows into these holes, it splits the column of air inside the instrument to create a unique sound. We can produce different sounds by using different columns, one for a given tone.
How many strings does a harp have?
This musical instrument stands out from the rest undoubtedly. Standing tall at about 6 feet, it is shaped like the number 7 and consists of 47 strings of different lengths. Harps play both melody and harmony.
How long have musical instruments been around?
The history of musical instruments dates back to as far as 67,000 years ago. The oldest object that is referred to as a musical instrument by some scholars is a flute. The classification of musical instruments is a disciple in its own right. There have been many classifications of musical instruments to date.
What is the difference between an oboe and an English horn?
A similar instrument, called the English horn, is closely related to the oboe. The difference between these two is that the English horn’s tube is a bit longer and wider than the oboe. The lower end of the English horn opens out into a rounded bell shape, producing a warmer and fuller sound.
What are the instruments used in African music?
African musical instruments include a wide range of drums, slit gongs, rattles and double bells, different types of harps, and harp-like instruments such as the Kora and the ngoni, as well as fiddles, many kinds of xylophone and lamellophone such as the mbira, and different types of wind instrument like flutes and trumpets. Additionally, string instruments are also used, with the lute -like oud and Ngoni serving as musical accompaniment in some areas.
What scales does African music use?
African music most closely adheres to Western tetratonic (four-note), pentatonic (five-note), hexatonic (six-note), and heptatonic (seven-note) scales. Harmonization of the melody is accomplished by singing in parallel thirds, fourths, or fifths.
What are the four regions of sub-Saharan Africa?
Musicologically, Sub-Saharan Africa may be divided into four regions: The eastern region (light green regions on map) includes the music of Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe as well as the islands of Madagascar, the Seychelles, Mauritius and Comor.
What is the music of Somalia?
With these may be grouped the music of Sudan and of the Horn of Africa, including the music of Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia. Somali music is typically pentatonic, using five pitches per octave in contrast to a heptatonic (seven note) scale such as the major scale.
What is African music?
Like the music of Asia, India and the Middle East, it is a highly rhythmic music. African music consists of complex rhythmic patterns, often involving one rhythm played against another to create a polyrhythm. The most common polyrhythm plays three beats on top of two, like a triplet played against straight notes.
How many beats does a polyrhythm play?
The most common polyrhythm plays three beats on top of two, like a triplet played against straight notes. Beyond the rhythmic nature of the music, African music differs from Western music in that the various parts of the music do not necessarily combine in a harmonious fashion.
What are the musical traditions of the African diaspora?
The music and dance of the African diaspora, formed to varying degrees on African musical traditions, include American music and many Caribbean genres, such as calypso (see kaiso) and soca.