Musical instruments were found on many different planets. They could be divided into string instruments, wind instruments, percussion instruments, and mental instruments. Wind instruments could be further subdivided into woodwind instruments and brass instruments.
String instruments[]
Treble clef in musical notation
As the name implies, these instruments possessed strings that needed to vibrate in order to produce sound. This could be achieved by either plucking the strings, drawing a bow across them, or striking the strings with a hammer. Human instruments belonging to this group included guitars, kitharas, violins, mandolins, cellos, and pianos. The Vulcan lute also belonged to this group.
Wind instruments[]
Wind instruments consisted of a tube containing a column of air which was set into vibration by the player blowing into it. Instruments belonging to this group included trombones, trumpets, clarinets, oboes, bagpipes, and the Ressikan flute.
Percussion instruments[]
These instruments were played by being struck (by hand or with sticks or mallets) or shaken. Instruments belonging to this group included drums, tambourine, bells, chimes, the Algolian musical instrument, and Bajoran rattle and cabasa.
Mental instruments[]
The Enaran musical instrument was played with the tips of the fingers
These instruments were played or controlled by thought and usually by a touch of the hand. The Aldean musical instruments and Elanin singer stones belonged to this group. Another such instrument was the Enaran musical instrument. This was played while held in the lap. Its surface was manipulated with the tips of the fingers, producing a harp-like melodious tone. (TNG: "When The Bough Breaks", "Pen Pals", VOY: "Remember")
List of musical instruments[]
- Aldean
- Algolian
- Bajoran
- Betazoid
- Enaran
- Human
- Kataan (community of Ressik)
- Klingon
- Kriosian
- Mataline II
- Other
- Risian
- Taresian
- Trill
- Valtese
- Vulcan
- Unnamed musical instruments
See also[]
- Boatswain's whistle
- Elanin singer stone
- Jukebox
- Muktok plant
- Music box
- Sikarian atmospheric sensor
- Singing plant