bowed instrument

The term "bowed instrument" refers to stringed musical instruments played with a bow. The principle of bowing, typically using horsehair, can be traced back to the Muslim civilization of the 10th century. Bowed instruments are almost always of the lute class, which are characterized by a sound chamber and stretched strings.12

The violin family, including the violin, viola, cello, and double bass, forms the core of the modern symphony orchestra. These instruments, along with others like the erhu and rabab, are played with a bow made of a flexible stick with tightly held fibers, most commonly rosined horsehair. The bow creates sound through friction when drawn across the strings. The development of the modern bow, perfected by François Tourte in the early 19th century, features a concave stick and adjustable tension for nuanced playing.34