Plucked & Struck String Instruments

• Study notes on plucked and struck string instruments

Lute

• The lute has ancient predecessors and became a popular ensemble instrument during the Renaissance in Europe (15th century).
• Lutes often have frets like guitars and can have up to 20 strings; their necks are often bent.

Mandolin

• The mandolin with its pear-shaped body originated in Naples, Italy, and became a folk instrument.
• Mandolins often have 4-6 double strings plucked with a pick(plectrum), either simply or with rapid tremolo.

Banjo

• The banjo is a plucked instrument developed in America, especially played in Jazz bands.
• Characteristic is a sound body (tambourine) with a skin.
• The banjo evolved from long-necked African lutes brought to America by slaves.

Guitar

• Guitar predecessors were likely brought to Spain by the Arabs.
• The guitar spread throughout Europe by the 14th century.
• The non-electric classical guitar is also called an acoustic guitar.
• Modern guitar strings are often made of nylon and have 6 strings.

Electric Guitar

• The vibration of the strings is scanned by an electromagnetic pickup
• Relayed to an amplifier and reproduced via a loudspeaker.
• Effects and unique sounds enable various additional devices.
• The instrument is considered a driving force in modern rock groups.

E-Bass

• Usually when bass is mentioned in rock music, it refers to electric bass.
• Similar to an electric guitar, the typical 4-string electric bass requires an electric amplifier.

Zither

• Zithers are widespread in Africa, Asia (e.g., China, Japan), and Europe, where they are popular folk instruments.
• Zithers feature a flat soundbox, placed on the player with strings plucked by both hands (5 melody strings with metal frets, about 40 accompaniment strings).

Dulcimer

• The dulcimer is a zither that is struck with spoon-like hammers or mallets, with the strings stretched across a trapezoidal frame (board zither).
• The dulcimer was especially popular in upper-class societies.
• Today, it is primarily a folk instrument.

Harp

• Early forms of the harp were known in Egypt around 5000 years ago.
• Modern orchestral harps can have about 50 strings that can be played individually or in chords.
• Each string can be tuned to three different notes using pedals.

Piano

• The piano has a large tonal range, surpassed only by the organ.
• The first instrument whose strings were struck with small hammers originated around 1700.
• Modern pianos require a cast iron frame to withstand strong string tension.
• The volume can be influenced by the force with which a key is struck.
• When the player releases the key the string is muted.

Harpsichord

• The harpsichord has a similar shape to a piano.
• The strings are plucked with quills instead of being struck with hammers.
• The volume of the harpsichord does not depend on the force of the touch.
• The harpsichord was particularly popular during the Baroque period around 1600.