Plucked string instrument facts for kids

Plucked string instruments are musical instruments where you make sound by pulling or striking their strings. Instead of bowing or hitting, you use your fingers or a small tool called a pick to make the strings vibrate. This vibration creates the sounds we hear.

Some popular examples include the guitar, ukulele, lute, bass guitar, mandolin, and banjo. These instruments are found in many types of music around the world.

The guitar, a common plucked string instrument

What Are Plucked String Instruments?

Plucked string instruments are part of the string family. They create music when their strings are set into motion by plucking. This action causes the string to vibrate quickly.

How They Make Sound

When a string vibrates, it pushes the air around it. This creates sound waves that travel to our ears. The sound is often made louder by a hollow body on the instrument. This body acts like a speaker, making the vibrations bigger and easier to hear.

The thickness, length, and tightness of a string all change the sound it makes. Thicker, longer, or looser strings usually make lower sounds. Thinner, shorter, or tighter strings make higher sounds.

Ways to Pluck the Strings

There are two main ways to pluck the strings on these instruments:

• Fingerpicking: This is when musicians use their bare fingers or fingernails to pluck the strings. It allows for a very gentle and detailed sound. Many classical guitarists use this method.
• Using a Pick: A pick (also called a plectrum) is a small, flat piece of material, often plastic. Musicians hold it to strike the strings. Using a pick can create a louder and brighter sound. It is common for electric guitar players.

Popular Plucked Instruments

Many different instruments fall into the plucked string category. Each one has its own unique sound and history.

The Guitar

The guitar is one of the most well-known plucked string instruments. It usually has six strings and is played by strumming or plucking. Guitars come in many forms, like acoustic, electric, and classical. They are used in almost every type of music, from rock to folk.

Ukulele and Mandolin

The ukulele is a small, four-stringed instrument from Hawaii. It makes a cheerful, light sound and is easy to learn. It has become very popular for beginners.

The mandolin is a smaller instrument, often with eight strings grouped into four pairs. It has a bright, ringing sound. Mandolins are often used in folk, country, and bluegrass music.

Banjo and Lute

The banjo is an instrument with a unique sound, often heard in American folk and country music. It typically has four or five strings. Its body often has a drum-like head, which gives it a distinct, twangy sound.

The lute is an older instrument with a rounded back, similar to a pear. It was very popular in Europe during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Lutes have many strings and are known for their soft, gentle sound.

The Bass Guitar

The bass guitar is a larger version of the guitar, usually with four thick strings. It plays the low notes in a band, providing the rhythmic foundation. Bass guitars are crucial in almost all modern music styles.

A Bit of History

Plucked string instruments have been around for thousands of years. Early versions of instruments like the lute and harp were played in ancient civilizations. Over time, these instruments changed and developed into the many different types we see today. Each culture often had its own unique plucked string instruments, showing how music connects people across the world.

Images for kids

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  Guitar and lute

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  This illustration in a French Psalter from the 9th century (c. 830) shows an unspecified plucked string instrument.

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  Stringed instruments hanging on a wall. Shown here are 4 Lookoeos, 2 mandolins, a banjo, a guitar, a violin, a Guraitar and a bass guitar.

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  Qanún/kanun, origin from ancient Mesopotamia

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  Kantele

See also

In Spanish: Instrumento de cuerda pulsada para niños