The String Family

The string family is a group of instruments that make sound by vibrating strings. When you pluck, strum, or use a bow on the strings, they vibrate back and forth very quickly, and those vibrations travel through the air as sound!

String instruments have been around for thousands of years. People discovered that stretching a string tight and plucking it makes a nice sound. The tighter the string, the higher the note. The thicker the string, the lower the note.

String instruments can sound warm, sweet, and singing. They can also sound dramatic, sad, or exciting. They are some of the most versatile instruments in the world, which means they can play many different kinds of music.

The string family is the biggest family in an orchestra (a large group of musicians). More than half the musicians in an orchestra play string instruments!