The STRING Family

 The string family is comprised of instruments whose sounding mechanism is directly contacted by the hands. Many stringed instruments are played with a bow, which greatly increases the possible sounds that the instrument can produce. The most common types of stringed instruments include

:• the violin family (violin, viola, violoncello and double bass) 

 •the harp 

• the guitar family (guitar, bass guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele)  

•variousfolk instruments such as the dulcimeror the psaltery 

•the ancientviol family (ancestors to the violin family)The violin family became the core of the modern orchestral string section in the mid- 1600s. The standard range categorization of this family is as follows:

 • Violin (soprano),Viola (alto),Cello (tenor), Double Bass (bass)Note: The piano and the harpsichord ARE NOT string instruments, since the player's hands do not come in direct contact with the strings