FAQ
What is the oldest musical instrument?
The Divje Babe flute from Slovenia, carved from a cave bear femur approximately 40,000 years ago. It was likely made by Neanderthals. The oldest known instrument played with a technique similar to modern instruments is the bone flute from Germany, dated to 35,000 years ago.
What is the most played instrument in the world?
The guitar, with over 50 million sold annually. The piano is second with an estimated 10 million active players. The harmonica is the best-selling instrument by units at over 40 million per year. Singing is the most universal but is not classified as an instrument.
What instrument has the largest range?
The pipe organ has the widest range of any instrument, spanning over 10 octaves in large instruments. The piano has a range of 7.25 octaves (88 keys). Among orchestral instruments, the clarinet has the widest pitch range. The human voice has approximately 2 octaves for most singers.
How many musical instruments exist?
Over 1,500 distinct types of musical instruments have been documented worldwide. The Hornbostel-Sachs classification system organizes them into five categories: idiophones, membranophones, chordophones, aerophones, and electrophones. New instruments continue to be invented.