Instruments That Begin With B: From Bagpipes to Balalaikas!

Music is a universal language, and musical instruments are its vocabulary. From the delicate chime of a triangle to the booming resonance of a pipe organ, the world of instruments offers a stunning array of sounds and experiences.

This article focuses on a small, but fascinating, subset of that world: instruments that begin with the letter “B.” From the well-known to the obscure, these instruments showcase the incredible diversity and richness of musical expression.

We’ll be taking a look at the history, characteristics, and cultural significance of each instrument. Musical instruments are often categorized by how they produce sound: idiophones (instruments that vibrate themselves), membranophones (instruments with a vibrating membrane), chordophones (instruments with vibrating strings), and aerophones (instruments that vibrate a column of air). We’ll use these categories to organize our exploration.

We’ll also touch on the geographical origins and cultural contexts of each of these instruments that begin with B, highlighting their unique contributions to the global tapestry of music.

Percussion Instruments That Start With “B”

Percussion instruments fall into two main categories: membranophones, which produce sound when a stretched membrane is struck, and idiophones, which create sound through the vibration of the instrument itself.

Membranophones: Instruments with a Stretched Membrane

• Bass Drum: A big drum that makes a low sound. You’ll hear it in orchestras, marching bands, and rock music.
• Batá Drum: A drum with two heads that comes from the Yoruba tradition. It’s used in religious ceremonies and played in groups of two or more.
• Bedug: A big, barrel-shaped drum with two sides that’s used in Indonesia, often in mosques, to signal prayer times.
• Bodhrán: An Irish frame drum that’s played with a stick (called a “tipper”) or by hand. It’s strongly associated with traditional Irish music.

Idiophones: Instruments That Vibrate to Produce Sound

• Balafon: A West African xylophone that uses gourds as resonators to amplify the sound. It’s often used in traditional ceremonies and storytelling.
• Babendil: A gong from the Philippines that has a single, narrow rim. It’s used in kulintang ensembles (a type of musical performance).
• Boobam: A set of tuned drums that are often used in pop music. The drums are tuned to a diatonic scale (think of the “do-re-mi” scale).

Stringed instruments starting with “B” (Chordophones)

Here’s a look at some stringed instruments beginning with the letter “B,” divided into fretted and unfretted instruments.

Fretted String Instruments

Fretted instruments have raised strips of material called frets along the neck of the instrument. The player presses the strings down behind the frets to shorten the vibrating length of the string, which raises the pitch.

• Bağlama: This long-necked lute comes to us from Turkey. It’s a mainstay of Turkish folk music.
• Balalaika: This triangular-bodied, three-stringed instrument is from Russia and is strongly associated with Russian folk music.
• Bajo Sexto: The Bajo Sexto is a Mexican 12-string guitar. It’s used in Norteño and Tejano music.
• Bandola: This pear-shaped stringed instrument from South America is used in many Latin American musical styles.
• Bandura: The Bandura is a Ukrainian plucked string instrument. It features a diatonic tuning.
• Bandurria: This Spanish plucked string instrument is similar to a mandolin and is used in Spanish folk music.
• Banjo Ukulele: As the name suggests, this is a hybrid instrument that combines the banjo and the ukulele.

Unfretted String Instruments

Unfretted string instruments don’t have frets, giving players more flexibility in the notes they can play. The player must place their fingers in exactly the right spot on the string to produce the desired pitch, allowing for slides and other expressive techniques.

• Barbat: The Barbat is a pear-shaped, short-necked lute from Persia (modern-day Iran). It’s considered a precursor to the oud.
• Bazooka: This homemade American instrument is similar to a trombone. It was popularized by comedian Bob Burns.
• Bordonua: The Bordonua is a large Mexican bass guitar used as a bass instrument in folk ensembles.
• Bouzouki: The Bouzouki is a long-necked lute of Greek origin and an important instrument in Greek folk music.

Wind Instruments Starting With “B” (Aerophones)

Aerophones are musical instruments that produce sound by causing a body of air to vibrate. Here are some of the more well-known wind instruments that start with the letter “B.”

Reed Instruments

With reed instruments, the musician blows air across or through a reed, which vibrates to create sound.

• Bagpipe: This wind instrument uses enclosed reeds that are fed from a constant supply of air. Bagpipes are strongly associated with the music of Scotland and Ireland.
• Balaban: The balaban is a cylindrical, double-reed wind instrument from Azerbaijan. It’s also known as the Duduk in Armenia.
• Bawu: The Bawu is a free-reed wind instrument that’s popular in Chinese folk music.
• Birbynė: This Lithuanian woodwind instrument uses a single reed. It’s often heard in Lithuanian folk music.
• Bombarde: The bombarde is a shawm-like instrument from Brittany (France). It’s used in traditional Breton folk music.
• Bassoon: The bassoon is a double-reed woodwind instrument with a deep, rich sound. You’ll often see it in orchestras and wind ensembles.

Lip-Reed Instruments (Brass)

With lip-reed instruments, the musician’s lips vibrate against the mouthpiece to create sound. These are typically made of brass.

• Baritone Horn: The baritone horn is a brass instrument that can play in the tenor or baritone range. It’s often used in brass bands and wind ensembles.
• Buccina: This ancient Roman brass instrument was a type of trumpet. It was used to send military signals.
• Bugle: The bugle is a simple brass instrument with no valves. Like the buccina, it’s used for military signals and fanfares.

Flutes and Other Aerophones

This category includes flutes and other instruments that don’t fit neatly into the reed or lip-reed categories.

• Bansuri: The bansuri is an Indian bamboo flute. It’s strongly associated with Hindustani classical music.
• Blown Bottle: A blown bottle is about as simple as an instrument can get. You create sound by blowing across the opening of a bottle, and you can tune it by adding or removing water.
• Blul: The blul is a flute that’s played in Armenia and the Caucasus region.
• Bullroarer: The bullroarer is an ancient instrument that makes a roaring sound when you whirl it through the air. It’s been used in various cultures for ceremonial purposes.

Other Instruments and Vocal Techniques Starting With “B”

Here are a few more instruments and vocal techniques beginning with the letter “B.” Some are hybrid instruments or instruments that are rarely seen today.

Hybrid and Unusual Instruments

• Bamboula: An early African American drum, the bamboula was also the name of a dance that went along with it. The bamboula is closely associated with Congo Square in New Orleans.
• Bandoneón: This type of concertina is especially popular in Argentina, where it’s closely linked with tango music.
• Baryton: The baryton is a bowed string instrument with extra strings that vibrate sympathetically, creating a richer sound. It’s most closely associated with Prince Esterházy and Joseph Haydn.
• Bipa: This Korean instrument is similar to a lute.
• Buzuq: Related to the bouzouki, the buzuq is a long-necked lute.

Vocal Techniques

• Baritone voice: In singing, the baritone range is between the tenor and bass ranges. The baritone part is an important one in opera and musical theater.
• Beatboxing: This modern vocal technique involves using the mouth, lips, tongue, and voice to create percussive sounds. Beatboxing can be heard in hip-hop and other musical genres.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

As we’ve seen, the musical instruments that start with the letter “B” are incredibly diverse. From the booming baritone horn to the bright sounds of the balalaika, from the rhythmic beat of the bodhrán to the soulful melodies of the bouzouki, the sheer variety is astounding. These instruments span across musical genres and continents, showcasing the breadth of human creativity.

Many of these “B” instruments hold a special place in their respective cultures. They’re often featured prominently in traditional music, folk songs, and ceremonial performances, reflecting the unique history and heritage of the communities that cherish them. Think of the bagpipes in Scotland, the banjo in American bluegrass, or the berimbau in Brazilian capoeira – each instrument tells a story.

If you’re intrigued by any of these instruments, I encourage you to explore them further. Listen to recordings, watch videos of musicians playing them, or even attend a live performance if you have the opportunity. You might discover a new favorite sound or a deeper appreciation for the world’s musical tapestry.

Of course, this list is just a starting point. The world of musical instruments is vast and ever-evolving, and there are undoubtedly other fascinating instruments beginning with “B” that we haven’t covered here. But hopefully, this has given you a glimpse into the richness and variety of musical instruments and inspired you to continue your own musical journey.