A folk instrument is a traditional musical instrument that has remained largely restricted to traditional folk music, and is not usually used in the classical music or other elite and formal musical genres of the culture concerned, though related instruments may be.
It can be made from wood, metal or other material; all the major families of instruments are represented. The instruments can be percussion instruments, or different types of flutes or trumpets, or string instruments that are plucked, hammered or use a form of bow.
Some instruments are referred to as folk instruments because they commonly appear in folk music, even though they are also used in other types of music; for example, the classical violin and the folk fiddle are usually identical.
List of folk instruments For instruments used in particular European folk styles, see the List of European folk music traditions
accordion alboka angklung appalachian dulcimer autoharp bağlama bagpipe balalaika bandura banjo bass binioù kozh birimbau bodhrán bombard bouzouki & Irish bouzouki brommtopp bukkehorn bullroarer cajón catá cavaquinho chajchas charango çifteli cimbalom çığırtma claves concertina concheras cuatro daegeum damphu darbuka dhol dholak didgeridoo dingulator dizi djembe dotara dranyen drum ektara erhu fiddle fujara gadulka gaida gayageum guan gudok guitalin guitar guitarra Portuguesa gusle gusli haegeum hammered dulcimer hank drum hardingfele harmonica harmonium hurdy-gurdy jew harp jouhikko jug kantele kaval kazoo khamak klopotec kobza kokle komuz kora kulintang låtfiol launeddas lur madal mandocello mandola mandolin & octave mandolin marimbula mbira/thumb piano melodeon mountain dulcimer mridangam musical saw nyckelharpa ocarina oud pan flute pipa pogo cello quena rabeca ravanahatha rebab rebec recorder rubab salamiyyah sarangi (Indian) sarangi (Nepali) sasando shehnai shofar sinfonia sitar smallpipes snare drum sopilka spilåpipa steel guitar steelpan stompbox suona švilpa tabla talking drum tambura tin whistle tiple trembita tres udu uilleann pipes ukulele viola beiroa viola braguesa viola caipira viola campaniça viola da terra viola toeira vuvuzela washboard washtub bass willow flute xylophone yangqin zampoña zhaleika zither zurna
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