| Stringed instruments (violin, viola, cello, bass) are | | | | piano. There is no transposing needed by the |
| cousins of the piano as they make music with | | | | pianist (as is required for other instruments such |
| strings vibrating to a certain pitch. But they are | | | | as trumpet and sax). All the notes produced by |
| different in the sense that the strings of a piano | | | | these instruments can be found on the piano's |
| are struck with hammers to create sound, where | | | | range of over eight octaves (where a guitar for |
| as a violin player uses a bow to create sound. | | | | example, has a range of only four and-a-half |
| Sometimes, however, a violinist or other string | | | | octaves). |
| player plucks the strings with their fingers (as | | | | Tuning of all stringed instruments, including piano, is |
| directed in the music as pizzicato). Violin, viola, | | | | done by tightening or loosening the tension of a |
| cello, and bass are not exclusively orchestral | | | | particular string. As a string is tightened, it is made |
| instruments. These versatile instruments are used | | | | shorter and thus, vibrates faster and at a higher |
| in jazz, country, bluegrass, and other types of | | | | frequency. Also, the thinner the string, the higher |
| music. | | | | the pitch. The higher pitched strings of a piano are |
| A hammered dulcimer is very similar to piano in | | | | made with piano wire alone, whereas the lower |
| that strings are struck with hammers to produce | | | | sounding string are wrapped with brass, bronze, |
| tones. Unlike the piano, all the strings of a | | | | or other metal wrapped tightly around a core of |
| hammered dulcimer are exposed and easily | | | | piano. Although they may be made out of the |
| accessed by the musician. As many as four | | | | same material and in the same fashion, Piano |
| strings can be struck at the same time to | | | | strings are not used on guitar nor are guitar |
| produce chords. The player holds two (sometimes | | | | strings typically used on a mandolin, banjo, or |
| four) shaped wooden hammers, playing the | | | | ukulele. |
| strings in combination to produce chords and | | | | The sound of a stringed instrument is created |
| melodies. A hammered dulcimer is found | | | | note only by the sound of the strings themselves |
| predominately in folk music and is known for it's | | | | vibrating, but the strings causing other parts of |
| unique sound. | | | | the instrument to vibrate as well. For example, a |
| Even more similar to the piano is the harpsichord, | | | | guitar's top (more so than its back and sides) |
| as it has a similar keyboard and notes are | | | | contributes to the sound of the instrument. The |
| produced by plucking (striking) the strings. A great | | | | same is true of the mandolin and other members |
| deal of music written for harpsichord can be | | | | of the string family. The soundboard, harp, and |
| played on piano (and vice versa) although the | | | | basic framework of a piano all contribute to it's |
| sound (and essentially, the style) is different for | | | | unique sound, As a general rule, the better quality |
| each instrument. | | | | the components, the better the tone of the |
| Other stringed instruments include guitar, mandolin, | | | | instrument (with the type and age of the wood |
| banjo, ukulele, and harp. All these instruments are | | | | being the biggest contributor). |
| tuned in the same way (in the same key) as | | | | |