Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Which instruments make up a traditional string quartet?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
music
The universality and innate nature of music, and the pentatonic scale, as demonstrated by singer Bobby McFerrin.
A traditional string quartet is a musical ensemble consisting of four instruments: two violins, one viola, and one cello.12
This configuration has been the predominant genre of chamber music since approximately 1750. While the term "quartet" can refer to any composition for four parts, it is most commonly associated with this specific string ensemble. In the mature Classical style established by composers such as Joseph Haydn, the genre is characterized by the equal participation of all four instruments.12