Explore World Instruments with music dictionary guides to global sounds, traditional tools, cultural roots, tuning, rhythm, and performance.
The erhu is a traditional Chinese two‑stringed bowed instrument belonging to the huqin family. It is known for its expressive, vocal‑like tone and is a staple of Chinese folk, opera, and contemporary music.
The steel drum, also known as the steelpan, is a pitched percussion instrument originating from Trinidad and Tobago. Made from oil drums, it produces a bright, resonant tone and is central to Caribbean music and global percussion ensembles.