While "string instrument" is the common term, chordophones are scientifically divided into five categories based on the relationship between the strings and the instrument's frame: Description Common Examples Strings stretch across a resonator and up a neck. Guitar , Violin, Banjo, Sitar Zithers Strings are stretched across a body or box with no neck. Piano , Dulcimer, Harpsichord Harps
: Occasionally, strings are sounded by the wind (e.g., Aeolian harp). chordophone
Most chordophones include a , such as a hollow wooden body or a stretched membrane, which amplifies the vibration and gives the instrument its distinct volume and tone. 🎼 The Five Basic Types While "string instrument" is the common term, chordophones