Instrument Library

Explore all 30 instrument profiles in our library, organized by family. Each profile covers construction, strings, tuning, size, and typical musical role. Use our comparator to set any two to four instruments side by side.

Guitars

Acoustic Guitar

Spain, later United States

Guitars

Classical Guitar

Spain

Guitars

Electric Guitar

United States

Guitars

Bass Guitar

United States

Guitars

Twelve-String Guitar

United States

Guitars

Lap Steel Guitar

Hawaii, commercialized in the United States

Guitars

Pedal Steel Guitar

United States

Guitars

Resonator Guitar

United States

Guitars

Chapman Stick

United States

Bowed Strings

Violin

Northern Italy

Bowed Strings

Viola

Northern Italy

Bowed Strings

Cello

Northern Italy

Bowed Strings

Double Bass

Europe

Bowed Strings

Electric Violin

United States

Folk & Plucked

Ukulele

Hawaii

Folk & Plucked

Mandolin

Italy, later United States

Folk & Plucked

Banjo

West Africa, developed in the Americas

Folk & Plucked

Harp

Ancient origins across multiple cultures; modern pedal harp developed in Europe

Folk & Plucked

Dulcimer (Appalachian)

Appalachian region, United States

Folk & Plucked

Autoharp

Germany and United States

World Traditions

Lute

Near East, developed in Europe

World Traditions

Oud

Middle East and North Africa

World Traditions

Sitar

North India

World Traditions

Koto

Japan

World Traditions

Shamisen

Japan

World Traditions

Erhu

China

World Traditions

Pipa

China

World Traditions

Charango

Andean South America

World Traditions

Balalaika

Russia

World Traditions

Bouzouki

Greece, with a distinct Irish adaptation