Stringed Instruments

The instruments in the string family all look very similar, but are different sizes. The smaller instruments make higher pitched sounds than the larger instruments. The wooden bodies of the string instruments are hollow, allowing the sound to vibrate. The strings (made of nylon or steel or even gut) are usually played by drawing a bow across them. The bow is made of wood and horsehair. Sometimes the strings are plucked with the fingers, instead of played with the bow.