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What are idiophones and how do they produce sound?
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musical instrument
Children playing musical instruments.
Idiophones are a diverse class of musical instruments defined by the fact that their entire body vibrates to produce sound. Unlike instruments that rely on stretched membranes or vibrating strings, idiophones generate sound through the vibration of the material of the instrument itself, which is not held under special tension.12
These instruments produce sound through various methods of activation, including:
- Striking: The most common method, which includes concussion instruments (two components struck together, such as cymbals or castanets) and percussion idiophones (struck by a nonsonorous striker, such as xylophones, gongs, or bells).31
- Shaking: Instruments such as rattles produce sound when internal or attached materials collide with the instrument's body.31
- Plucking: Instruments like the jew’s harp or mbira create sound when a tongue or tine is plucked.34
- Friction, Scraping, or Blowing: These methods involve rubbing, scraping, or blowing across the instrument to induce vibration, as seen in scrapers or musical glasses.32
Idiophones can be made from various materials, including wood, metal, or stone, and may be either pitched or unpitched.31