Musical instrument refers to things or devices that produce sounds that are musical.
Musical instruments are important in the culture of human beings. Modern music uses different types of instruments to create sounds and tunes for others to enjoy.
What are the common genres of music and the instruments?
There are various genres in music that are commonly seen. Many genres in music are a combination of two or more styles. This includes the combination of various elements in a music.
In the present, different genres are being created from the use of various combinations of styles and elements.
Ten of the most common genres of music are:
Pop music
In the present times, pop music is inclusive of other elements and styles, such as EDM, trap, house, etc. The songs are often played and ranked at the top of popular music lists on the streaming services and radio stations.
The instruments commonly used in pop music are the guitar, piano, saxophone, and drums.
Rock music
Rock music usually has high-gain electric guitar tones, along with bass guitar, drum kits and strong vocals.
The instruments commonly used in rock music are acoustic guitars, electric pianos, electric organs, symbols, amplifiers, drums, piano, bass, electric guitar, electrical keyboard, and the polyphonic tape playback keyboard.
Hip-hop and Rap music
Today, hip-hop music is used with digital equipment (laptop and microphone) by the producers. It is typically used by rappers as a backing track while they rap over the music.
The instruments commonly used in hip-hop and rap music are drum machines, keyboard, piano, turntables, computers, and samplers.
Techno music
Techno music is similar to House music. However, there is a distinctive difference. Electronic sounds are typically featured strongly in Techno music compared to House music.
The instruments commonly used in techno music are electronic synthesizers and drum machines, where the acoustic sound will be replicated.
Country music
Stories about the reality of life and people’s perspective are used to create country music. Country music is still popular in the present time, typically combined with other styles and elements.
The instruments commonly used in country music are banjo, fiddle, harmonica, mandolin, dobro, acoustic guitar, accordion, double bass, electric guitar, electric bass, drums, piano, autoharp, and pedal steel guitar.
Jazz music
Jazz music comes from the combination of musical elements of European and African music genres. It features swung rhythms, a broad range of musical instruments and melodies.
The instruments commonly used in jazz music are trumpet, saxophone, piano, trombone, clarinet, double bass, drums, and electric guitar.
Electronic Dance Music (EDM)
EDM is a huge category of music, with features of classical elements to drum beats, synthesizers, and loops. There are various sub-genres in EDM, such examples are House, Techno, Trance, Dubstep, etc.
The instruments commonly used in EDM are electric guitar, sampler, saxophone, synthesizer, drum machines and pads.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal music typically includes loud volumes, cymbals crashing, rhythms that are pounding, and drop tunings used in guitars that are distorted. Effects and various techniques for playing are being incorporated in the live metal songs today.
The instruments commonly used in heavy metal music are electric guitars, bass guitars, and drums.
Classical music
Classical music is one of the oldest musical genres in the world. Composers create emotive symphonies with the use of musical instruments and pre-established tones, which form melodies and chord progressions.
The instruments commonly used in classical music are based in different categories - strings, woodwind, brass, percussion, and key.
For strings, it refers to violins, viola, cello, double bass, and occasionally, guitar.
For woodwind, it refers to recorder, wooden flute, oboe, bassoon, and clarinet.
For brass, it refers to trumpet and horns.
For percussion, it refers to timpani (known as kettledrums), triangle hand cymbals and bass drums.
The Fortepiano is referred to as key in classical music instruments.
Disco music
Disco music is typically heard in nightclubs. It features four-on-the-floor backbeat, basslines that are syncopated, funky guitar riffs and vocals that are reverb.
The instruments commonly used in disco music are bass guitar, drums, keyboards, strings and horns.
Which common musical instrument is suitable for children?
Xylophone (Recommended for young children)
A xylophone is a percussion instrument that is made of various graduated and tuned wooden bars, using sticks or mallets to hit on the bars. It is suggested that the xylophone came from Southeast Asia or Oceania.
Hand percussion (Recommended for young children)
Hand percussion refers to any type of percussion that can be played or held in the hand. Most of the hand percussion is made from wood, plastic, and rattan.
Piano (Recommended for elementary school children)
A piano is known as a pianoforte or French piano. It is a keyboard instrument with wired strings that produce sounds when it is hit by the felt covered hammers. It is suggested that Bartolomeo Cristofori invented the concept of the modern piano in Florence, 1709.
Ukulele (Recommended for elementary school children)
The ukulele is also known as ukelele. It is a small guitar, similar to the design of a machada.
Recorder (Recommended for elementary school children)
A recorder is a wind instrument of the flute class, similar to the flageolet. Arnold Dolmetsch, an English instrument maker, created the recorders in 1919.
Drums (Recommended for elementary, primary and secondary school)
A drum is a musical instrument, in which sound is produced by hitting the stretched membrane that covers the tube or bowl of wood, metal, or pottery.
Violin (Recommended for elementary and primary school children)
A violin is a bowed string musical instrument evolved from the earlier types of bowed instruments during the Renaissance period.
Guitar (Recommended for primary and secondary school)
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, speculated to have originated from Spain in the early 16th century.
Flute (Recommended for primary and secondary school)
The flute is known as the French flûte or the German Flöte. It is a wind instrument that produces sound from blowing a stream of air against the edges.
Trumpet (Recommended for primary and secondary school)
The trumpet is known as the French trompette or the German Trompete. It is a brass wind instrument that produces sounds from the vibration of the lips against the cup mouthpiece. A trumpet and a horn are different.
What are the benefits of playing musical instruments for children?
Learning to play musical instruments during their childhood days has shown to benefit children. They are able to:
● Sharpen children’s attentiveness,
● Develop abstract reasoning,
● Develop their creativity,
● Have stronger listening and memory skills,
● Develop coordination and motor skills,
● Improve self-discipline and self-esteem.
Children are known to be curious about their surroundings, willing to take in new experiences in their daily lives.
To introduce musical instruments, parents should:
● Use everyday objects as a percussive instrument,
● Showing children the instruments and letting them try,
● Making instruments from recycled materials,
● Playing music in their daily lives from different genres and cultures,
● Purchase colouring books with musical instruments.
I hope the information available helps you to understand more about the musical instruments that are used. As this article may serve as an aid to help you introduce the different types of musical instruments for your child to learn and pick up.
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