Ancient (pre-1 AD)
23 instruments
Drums
The oldest musical instrument after the human voice. Found in every culture on Earth. The ...
Flute
The oldest known musical instrument is a bone flute from 40,000 years ago found in Germany...
Trumpet
Used as signaling devices since ancient Egypt. The modern valve trumpet was developed arou...
Harp
One of the oldest string instruments. Modern concert harps have 47 strings and 7 pedals. E...
Organ
The largest musical instrument in the world. Church organs can have over 10,000 pipes. The...
Bagpipes
Originated in the Middle East, not Scotland. The Great Highland Bagpipe has one chanter an...
Santur
A hammered dulcimer with 72 strings. The ancestor of the piano according to some historian...
Didgeridoo
The worlds oldest wind instrument at over 3,500 years. Made from a termite-hollowed eucaly...
Gong
Over 4,000 years of history. Made from a flat metal disc. The tam-tam produces an indefini...
Singing Bowl
Produces sound when struck or circled with a mallet. Originated in Mesopotamia, spread to ...
Jaw Harp
One of the oldest instruments in the world. A metal or bamboo tongue twanged against the t...
Guqin
A seven-stringed plucked zither. Over 3,000 years of Chinese history. The instrument of sc...
Pipa
A four-stringed Chinese lute. Over 2,000 years of history. The name imitates the playing s...
Guzheng
A 21-string plucked zither. Over 2,500 years of history. Movable bridges allow tuning flex...
Bansuri
A bamboo flute used in Hindustani classical music. Six or seven finger holes, no keys. Har...
Duduk
The Armenian national instrument. A double reed instrument made from apricot wood. Over 3,...
Pan Flute
Named after Pan, the Greek god of nature. Multiple tubes of different lengths bound togeth...
Sheng
A Chinese mouth organ with free reeds. Over 3,000 years of history. Multiple pipes of diff...
Slit Drum
A hollowed log with slits cut into it. Found in Africa, Oceania, and Central America. Over...
Quena
An Andean end-blown flute. No mouthpiece, blown across the open end. Over 3,000 years of A...
Zampona
Andean pan pipes. Two rows of cane tubes tied together. Each tube produces one note. Over ...
Mridangam
The primary rhythm instrument of Carnatic music. A two-headed barrel drum. Over 2,500 year...
Veena
One of the oldest instruments in India. Over 3,000 years of tradition. Four playing string...