Bowed string instrument

Bowed string instruments are a subcategory of string instruments that are played by a bow rubbing the strings. The bow rubbing the string causes vibration which the instrument emits as sound.

Despite the numerous specialist studies devoted to the origin of bowing, the origin of bowing remains unknown.

Violin family



 * Cello (violoncello)
 * Pochette
 * Viola (altviol, bratsche)
 * Violin (violino)
 * Double bass (contrabasso)


 * Variants on the standard members of the violin family include:


 * Baroque violin
 * Cello da spalla
 * Five string violin
 * Hardanger fiddle
 * Kit violin
 * Kontra
 * Låtfiol
 * Lira da braccio
 * Octobass
 * Sardino
 * Stroh violin
 * Tenor violin

Viol family (Viola da Gamba family)



 * Alto viol (alto viola da gamba)
 * Bass viol (bass viola da gamba)
 * Tenor viol (tenor viola da gamba)
 * Treble viol (treble viola da gamba)


 * Variants on the standard four members of the viol family include:


 * Baryton
 * Division viol
 * Lirone
 * Lyra viol
 * Pardessus de viol
 * Vihuela de arco
 * Violone
 * Viola d'amore

Lyra and rebec type



 * Byzantine lyra
 * Calabrian lira
 * Cretan lyra
 * Gadulka
 * Ghaychak
 * Kamancheh
 * Kemençe of the Black Sea
 * Kemenche
 * Kemenche (classical)
 * Lijerica
 * Pochette
 * Rabeca
 * Rebab
 * Rebec
 * Shah Kaman

Chinese bowed instruments



 * Banhu
 * Daguangxian
 * Dahu
 * Dihu
 * Diyingehu
 * Erhu
 * Erxian
 * Gaohu
 * Gehu
 * Huqin
 * Jiaohu
 * Jinghu
 * Jing erhu
 * Laruan
 * Leiqin
 * Maguhu
 * Matouqin
 * Sanhu
 * Sihu
 * Tiqin
 * Tihu
 * Tuhu
 * Wenzhenqin
 * Xiqin
 * Yazheng
 * Yehu
 * Zhengni
 * Zhonghu
 * Zhuiqin
 * Zhuihu

Rosined wheel instruments


The following instruments are sounded by means of a turning wheel that acts as the bow:


 * Bowed clavier
 * Donskoy ryley
 * Dulcigurdy a.k.a. Vielle à roue et à manche
 * Drejelire
 * Harmonichord
 * Hurdy-gurdy
 * Kaisatsuko
 * Lira
 * Ninera
 * Organistrum
 * Tekerő
 * Viola organista
 * Violano Virtuoso
 * Wheelharp

Other bowed instruments

 * Agiarut
 * Ajaeng
 * Arpeggione
 * Bowed dulcimer
 * Bowed guitar
 * Bowed psaltery
 * Byzaanchy
 * Chuurqin
 * Crwth
 * Đàn nhị
 * Đàn hồ
 * Đàn gáo
 * Daxophone
 * Esraj
 * Fiðla
 * Gadulka
 * Ghaychak
 * Giga
 * Gudok
 * Gue
 * Gusle
 * Haegeum
 * Huqin
 * Igil
 * Imzad
 * Jouhikko
 * Kingri
 * Kokyū
 * Kobyz
 * Masenqo
 * Morin khuur
 * Musical saw
 * Neola
 * Nyckelharpa (Swedish keyed fiddle)
 * Ravanahatha
 * Salo
 * Sarangi
 * Sarangi (Nepali)
 * Sarinda
 * Saw duang
 * Saw sam sai
 * Saw u
 * Shichepshin
 * Sohaegeum
 * Sorahi
 * Sorud
 * Talharpa
 * Tautirut
 * Tro sau thom
 * Tro Khmer
 * Tro sau toch
 * Tro u
 * Umbang
 * Vielle
 * Violoncello da spalla
 * Yaylı tambur