What are chordophones and which instruments belong to this group?

A chordophone is a classification of musical instruments in which sound is produced by the vibration of one or more stretched strings. This term is used in the Sachs-Hornbostel system to provide a precise, acoustically based designation for what are commonly known as stringed instruments.123

Instruments in this group are categorized by how their strings are set into motion:

• Bowed: Instruments such as the violin, viola, violoncello, and double bass use a bow to vibrate the strings.4
• Plucked: This category includes the harp, guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, zither, lyre, lute, and harpsichord.4
• Struck: Instruments like the piano, clavichord, and dulcimer produce sound when strings are struck by hammers or other mechanisms.4

Additionally, the musical bow is an indigenous chordophone found in various cultures, which can be played by plucking, rubbing, or striking the string.2