Create Your Own Aerophone, Chordophone, Idiophone, Membranophone, or Lamellophone ... Wait - What Are Those?!

These different instrument families are distinguished by which part of the instrument vibrates. As 4th and 5th graders learned this week, sound is created when air vibrates. When a part of the instrument vibrates, it moves the air around it or contained within it. And a fun fact: no instruments would work in outer space - because there isn't air in outer space to vibrate! 

The body of an Aerophone  instrument vibrates, without using strings or membranes. 

In a Chordophone, a string is bowed or plucked to create the initial sound (and may also have a resonating body).

When the whole instrument vibrates to produce a sound when struck, shaken, or scraped, such as a bell, gong, or rattle, this is an Idiophone.

In a Membranophone, sound is produced by striking a stretched membrane that vibrates.  

For the Lamellophone, a “tongue” or small plate is plucked, which creates the sound.  The plates are often made from metal but can also be made out of wood or cane.

Read more below for different materials that may help you in your construction of different kinds of instruments.

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