Folk and World Music Instruments

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Earth bow – a single-stringed instrument of Cameroon, which uses the earth itself as a sound box. A hole is dug and a thin piece of wood is placed over it and is pegged down firmly. A springy sapling is driven into the ground, bent over and attached to the center of the wooden board with a strong cord.

Edakka - an hourglass shaped drum beaten with one stick from Kerala (India).

Egbong - a wooden drum with a baritone voice used by the Igede people of Nigeriait forms a set of three with Okpirih and Ubah.

Ekpiri – a rattle formed by a set of shiny seeds strung on a wooden or string handle, or on a grass belt. These rattles can be played softly, or are capable of producing a voluminous sound for their size (Nigeria).

Ektar – a one-stringed Indian folk instrument. It consists of a gourd that has been pierced by a stick of bamboo. Another piece of bamboo forms the tuning peg. The bridge is usually formed by a coin, a piece of coconut, plastic or some other material. The ektar is described in ancient Sanskrit texts as the ekatantri vina, literally the one stringed lute.

Ekwe - two tone Ibo log drum from Nigeria. Played with either a plain wooden stick, or a rubber-tipped beater.  

Electrophones- instruments that depend on electric power for producing sounds and for amplification.

Embairé - large Ugandan log xylophone. For a photograph see amadinda.

Embilta - simple Ethiopian one-note flute used in ceremonial rituals.

Enanga – a six or seven string zither that first entered East Africa with nomadic cattle keepers who migrated from what is now Southern Ethiopia.

Endere - Ugandan flute.

Endingidi - Ugandan fiddle.

Engalabi - a long lead drum from Uganda

Engoma

Enkelharpa – a Swedish fiddle, ancestor to the nyckelharpa, still played today.

Ennanga - Ugandan eight-string harp.

Ensemble- a group of singers, or instrumentalists.  

Entenga - a set of 15 tuned drums used in Ugandan court music.

Epinette des Vosges – a French instrument of the dulcimer family. It is oblong, often with 7 strings, 3 of which are fretted.

Erhu – a Chinese 2 string bowed lute. It has a small body and a long neck, with a range of three octaves. Since there is no fingerboard, finger pressure is a critical part of the erhu technique. 

Esraj - North Indian bowed instrument with 20 metal frets and 12 to 15 sympathetic strings. 

Esterilla - Colombian percussion instrument that resembles a small placemat. It is formed by small round pieces of wood that are woven together. When bent or rubbed, it makes a percussive sound.

Esukuti - term for both drum and dance in Kenya.

Last Updated 11/02/2004 06:47PM; 8,663 Hits