Top 10 Best String Instruments

The Top Ten
1 Guitar

Guitar is the greatest instrument ever. Chords, melodies, picking, strumming, rhythm, lead. There is such a wide range of what you can play on guitar, from the calm acoustics of Johnny Cash to the sounds of The White Stripes to the dirty grunge of Nirvana to the sophisticated riffs of Franz Ferdinand and Pink Floyd. The uses are limitless.

Firstly, you should love the instrument you play because when you love it, it will love you, and you will make a wonderful duet. However, every single instrument has its own sound and music. But I PLAY CLASSICAL GUITAR! I'm a beginner, and I think that guitar could take the place of any other musical instrument.

But if you are playing another instrument, keep on playing it because it won't be fun if the whole world played guitar. Oh, and I love VIOLIN and GUITAR! Fortunately, I play guitar.

2 Harp The harp is a stringed musical instrument that has a number of individual strings running at an angle to its soundboard; the strings are plucked with the fingers.

The sound is just lovely, and it doesn't do super high-pitched, irritating sounds and ugly stuff. It's just so soothing and calm! I may have never played a harp, but I know it is good. Wish I had one.

It just takes you to an alternate universe when you hear the beautiful sound.

Okay fine, harps sound like angels descending from the sky!

3 Violin The violin is a wooden string instrument in the violin family. It is the smallest and highest-pitched instrument in the family in regular use.

The violin is the best instrument because it has a way of expressing music like no other instrument can. Even out of the string instruments, I would say that it is the best because it has a rich, smooth sound and a little uniqueness that just makes it the best.

Expressing emotions and such is very easy to do on the violin, as the force of the bow, the position you are in, and the way you finger the strings (harmonics, pizzicato, etc.) can very easily change the feel of a certain piece of music. All in all, I would say that the violin is the best because of its expressions and tones.

4 Morin Khuur

This instrument sounds incredibly distinct and sometimes rather eerie. Nothing compares to it.

5 Tovshuur

What the heck is it? Literally never heard of it before. Just wanted to put a comment 'cause it was empty.

6 Cello The cello or violoncello is a bowed or plucked string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths.

Cellos are perfect for tall people like me. Bass is too big, viola and violin are too small. Cellos, you always sit down. They are not that high and not that low. I think they are perfect. And they are sometimes called "the key of the orchestra." They do not sound unstable like band instruments, but I feel like you can control cellos thoroughly.

It is my first year learning a string instrument. I started with the violin, but then I realized that the violin is not the instrument for me. It has too much pitch. Bringing a cello places makes it more convenient, but it is worth it. I like cello songs like Pavane and Ode to Joy. I also like Yo-Yo Ma. The cello is truly a good instrument.

7 Bass

I am a bassist now. I started in my early childhood as a keyboardist, all the way through to senior secondary school. I love the double-bass (aka upright bass) and also the acoustic/electric bass guitar. Most people would agree on how much of an impact the bass makes on a song that was written to include it.

I love using a bit of silence to drive home this point (and to allow the other performers some attention). Essentially, without the bass, the performance is generally more intimate. And with the bass (played by a talented bassist), it can be very lively.

8 Viola

When I first decided that I was going to play the viola, I was a bit worried that the diversity of the different kinds of music that could be played on this instrument would not compare to the violin. However, once I learned, I fell in love with the beautiful, rich tone of the viola. As I learn even more challenging pieces, I fall deeper in love with the wide range of notes that can be played by this instrument.

Another perk the instrument has is that colleges and specialty schools usually have a surplus of violin and cello players that apply and audition, but not as many violas. This means that you have a better chance of making it into a music school.

9 Ukulele The ukulele is a member of the lute family of instruments; it generally employs four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings.

I own a ukulele, and I have become so popular at school. It is so easy to play, and I would recommend it to any people looking to start with string instruments.

I play, and it's so easy to get into and fun and beautiful and soothing. Also, I feel like Tyler Joseph.

I have one and it is just amazing. Once you can play guitar, you can play this.

10 Sitar

Very old, but some of the best songs ever played long ago were from people who played the sitar. Not the best, but it is one of the most legendary.

I play the sitar, and trust me, the only reason it's not number one is that it is a little-known instrument.

Classical Indian music is incredible. In the sense of buildup and release, it is very much like metal.

The Contenders
11 Banjo

The banjo is my favorite instrument to play!

It has such a unique sound and tone that makes you want to keep picking it up. Many people of all ages will certainly enjoy hearing you play it!

Some instruments are associated with a certain country (like the sitar for India, the classical guitar for Spain, and the mandolin for Italy). For the banjo, its sound spells out America!

The banjo has long been a source of entertainment for many people throughout history. The instrument was based on similar instruments from Africa when Black slaves came over. Eventually, the design was improved with more European instrument traits. I think that shows the melting pot American culture is. It's great to see the banjo nowadays reach far beyond America and have its great sound spread across the world.

If you want to play a string instrument but want to play something unique, the banjo is certainly an instrument to look at!

12 Mandolin

My favorite instrument in the string family!

13 Lyre
14 Lute
15 Dobro
16 Pipa

A Pipa is a Chinese lute with a strange but great sound. I plan on learning somehow.

17 Balalaika

The balalaika has a very distinctive Russian/Slavic folk sound. It is by far my favorite instrument, but unfortunately, many Westerners can't appreciate it. The balalaika is not easy to learn with the limited resources available compared to similar instruments, but that's one of the things that makes it so unique and mystical.

18 Fiddle

I play the violin, and I love the sound of it. It's so melodious. Love the violin. Violists should really switch to the violin.

I like fiddling with my fiddle.

19 Oud
20 Chapman Stick

Beautiful instrument. Rivals the guitar easily despite its less conventional shape.

I love the sound of this instrument!

21 Hurdy Gurdy
22 Bouzouki
23 Double Bass

My first instrument was the viola, and we already never get any fun parts. But my orchestra class for my grade didn't have a bass, so I started playing that too. Even though it gets the harmony, those parts are fun too. Playing the instrument that no one wanted to is great.

I think it has the largest range in notes and is overall just better than the violin, cello, and viola.

24 Veena
25 Zither

Die Wiener Philharmoniker have a musician playing the zither. The zither is played in many traditional places in Austria and the Alpine countries. It has a sound that pulls on your heartstrings, so to say. It is a wonderful accompanying instrument to traditional folk songs.

8Load More
PSearch List