Here you’ll find 50 Musical instruments that start with C that begin with C, organized from “Cabasa” to “Cymbal”. They include percussion, strings, winds, keyboards, and electronic instruments used in performance, education, and folk traditions.
Musical instruments that start with C are playable devices from many families and cultures. For example, the cabasa has Afro‑Latin roots while the cymbal appears in orchestras worldwide.
Below you’ll find the table with family, origin, and materials.
Family: Lists the instrument’s family or Hornbostel‑Sachs group, so you can quickly see its sound category and ensemble role.
Origin: Indicates country or region and approximate era, helping you understand cultural background and historical context.
Materials: Names primary construction materials to help you judge tone, durability, and what the instrument is made from.
Musical instruments that start with C
| Name | Family | Origin | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cello | Bowed string | Italy, 16th c. | Spruce top, maple back, gut/steel strings |
| Clarinet | Reed woodwind | Germany, early 18th c. | Grenadilla/boxwood, cane reed, metal keys |
| Cornet | Brass | France/England, 19th c. | Brass tubing, mouthpiece |
| Contrabassoon | Double reed woodwind | Europe, 19th c. | Maple/bog oak, cane reeds, metal keys |
| Contrabass clarinet | Single reed woodwind | Europe, 19th–20th c. | Wood/metal body, large cane reed |
| Contrabass saxophone | Woodwind/brass hybrid | Belgium/France, 19th c. | Brass body, single reed mouthpiece |
| Contrabass trombone | Brass | Europe, 19th c. | Brass, large slide or valve system |
| Castanets | Idiophone | Spain, traditional | Hardwood shells, leather cord |
| Cymbal | Idiophone | Ancient Mediterranean, antiquity-present | Bronze or brass alloy |
| Cabasa | Idiophone | Latin America, 20th c. | Wood, steel beads, gourd core |
| Cajon | Membranophone | Peru, 19th c. | Wood box, thin front plate, nails/snares |
| Concertina | Free‑reed | England, 19th c. | Wood ends, metal reeds, leather bellows |
| Clavichord | Keyboard string | Europe, 14th–18th c. | Wood soundboard, metal strings, tangent action |
| Clavinet | Electro‑mechanical keyboard | Germany, 1960s | Wood case, strings, pickups, keys |
| Cimbalom | Hammered dulcimer | Central/Eastern Europe, 19th c. | Large soundbox, metal strings, wooden hammers |
| Cowbell | Idiophone | Worldwide, varied | Steel/iron bell |
| Conga | Membranophone | Cuba, African origins | Wood or fiberglass shell, animal skin/synthetic head |
| Crumhorn | Reed woodwind | Europe, Renaissance | Wooden curved body, capped double reed |
| Cornett | Woodwind | Renaissance Europe, 16th c. | Wooden body, leather bound, cup mouthpiece |
| Cornu | Brass | Ancient Rome | Bronze/brass, metal mouthpiece |
| Charango | Plucked string | Andes (Bolivia/Peru), 18th–19th c. | Wood or armadillo shell, nylon gut strings |
| Chapman Stick | Electric plucked string | USA, 1970s | Maple/walnut neck, steel strings, electronic pickups |
| Cuica | Friction drum | Brazil, African origins | Wood or metal shell, animal skin head, internal stick |
| Cuatro | Plucked string | Puerto Rico/Venezuela, 19th c. | Wood body, nylon/metal strings |
| Classical guitar | Plucked string | Spain, 19th c. | Spruce or cedar top, rosewood back, nylon strings |
| Claves | Idiophone | Cuba, Afro‑Cuban tradition | Hardwood sticks |
| Clapper | Idiophone | Worldwide, antiquity | Wood or metal slabs |
| Chimes | Idiophone | Europe/USA, 19th c. | Tuned metal tubes or bells |
| Chalumeau | Single‑reed woodwind | Western Europe, 17th c. | Wood body, single cane reed |
| Concert harp | Plucked string | Europe, 19th c. | Spruce soundboard, maple frame, gut/nylon strings |
| Celesta | Percussion/keyboard | France, 1886 | Metal plates, wooden case, keyboard action |
| Clapsticks | Idiophone | Australia, traditional | Hardwood |
| Calabash | Idiophone/resonator | West Africa, traditional | Dried gourd (calabash) |
| Carillon | Idiophone/bells | Belgium/Netherlands, 16th c. | Cast bronze bells, iron frame |
| Cittern | Plucked string | Europe, Renaissance | Wood body, metal strings |
| Citole | Plucked string | Medieval Europe, 12th–14th c. | Wood, gut strings |
| Cello da spalla | Bowed string | Baroque Europe, 17th–18th c. | Maple/spruce body, gut strings |
| Celtic harp | Plucked string | Ireland/Scotland, medieval–present | Wood frame, gut/nylon strings |
| Cor anglais | Double reed woodwind | France/England, 18th c. | Grenadilla, cane reed, metal keys |
| Chromatic harmonica | Free‑reed | USA/Germany, 20th c. | Metal comb, reeds, slide mechanism |
| Crotales | Idiophone | Ancient Mediterranean, antiquity to modern | Tuned bronze or brass disks |
| Chenda | Membranophone | Kerala, India, traditional | Cylindrical wooden shell, animal skin heads |
| Chimta | Idiophone | North India, folk tradition | Iron/tongs with jingles |
| Conch shell | Wind | Worldwide, antiquity to present | Seashell, mouthpiece lip |
| Concert flute | Woodwind | Germany/France, 19th c. | Grenadilla or metal body, metal keys |
| Cello piccolo | Bowed string | Baroque Europe/modern revivals | Spruce/maple, gut/steel strings |
| Crwth | Bowed/plucked string | Wales, medieval | Wooden body, gut strings |
| Cow horn | Wind | Various, traditional | Hardened horn |
| Cornamuse | Reed woodwind | Renaissance Europe | Wood body, capped double reed |
| Cornemuse | Bagpipe | France/Medieval–modern | Wood chanter, bag (hide), reeds |
Descriptions
Cello
Large orchestral violin family instrument, warm tenor–bass voice; central in chamber music and solo repertoire.
Clarinet
Single‑reed cylindrical woodwind with wide dynamic range; many sizes and styles used in classical, jazz, folk.
Cornet
Valved brass similar to trumpet but mellower, staple in brass bands and early jazz.
Contrabassoon
Very low double‑reed instrument doubling bassoon parts an octave lower; adds weight to orchestral bass lines.
Contrabass clarinet
Extremely low clarinet voice, rare but used in contemporary and wind‑band literature.
Contrabass saxophone
Enormous saxophone sounding very low pitches; used for novelty, experimental and orchestral textures.
Contrabass trombone
Deep trombone variant with extended low range for orchestral and brass repertoire.
Castanets
Small handheld clappers producing crisp clicks, central to Spanish dance and flamenco.
Cymbal
Concave metal discs struck or crashed for accents, orchestral, marching and world music staple.
Cabasa
Handheld shaker with looped beads; produces rhythmic metallic scraping sounds in Latin percussion.
Cajon
Box drum sat upon and played by hands; key instrument in Afro‑Peruvian, flamenco and acoustic ensembles.
Concertina
Small bellows instrument with buttons on both ends, popular in folk and maritime music.
Clavichord
Soft dynamic keyboard allowing expressive vibrato; historic predecessor to piano.
Clavinet
Electric keyboard that twangs like an amplified clavichord; iconic in funk and rock.
Cimbalom
Large, chromatic hammered zither common in Hungarian and Romani music; resonant, percussive tone.
Cowbell
Portable struck bell used in folk, Afro‑Latin and popular music; iconic on drum kits.
Conga
Tall single-headed drum played in sets; central to Afro‑Cuban and Latin dance music.
Crumhorn
J-shaped capped reed woodwind with buzzy medieval sound, common in early music ensembles.
Cornett
Curved wooden wind instrument with brass‑like timbre; vital in Renaissance and Baroque ensembles (also cornetto).
Cornu
Large curved Roman bronze horn used for military and ceremonial signals in antiquity.
Charango
Small lute‑like Andean instrument with bright, ringing sound used in folk music.
Chapman Stick
Two‑hand tapping instrument combining bass and melody lines; popular with progressive and experimental players.
Cuica
High‑pitched Brazilian drum sounded by rubbing an internal stick; famous in samba.
Cuatro
Small four‑ or ten‑string guitar family member; core of Caribbean folk traditions.
Classical guitar
Nylon‑strung guitar used for classical repertoire; distinct tone and right‑hand technique from steel‑string guitars.
Claves
Simple paired sticks struck together to produce a sharp rhythm, central to Cuban music.
Clapper
Simple struck blocks producing a sharp percussive sound; used in theatrical and folk contexts.
Chimes
Tuned tubular bells struck with mallets; used for celestial, bell‑like timbres in orchestras.
Chalumeau
Precursor to the modern clarinet with a capped reed and limited range; historically important.
Concert harp
Pedal harp used in orchestras and solo settings; large, chromatic instrument with shifting pedals.
Celesta
Bell‑like keyed instrument producing ethereal tones; famous from Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.”
Clapsticks
Paired sticks struck together in Aboriginal Australian music, providing steady rhythm for song and dance.
Calabash
Large gourd used as resonator or percussion surface in diverse African and Caribbean traditions.
Carillon
Large fixed set of tuned bells played from a clavier; heard from church towers and municipal buildings.
Cittern
Renaissance and Baroque wire‑strung instrument; bright timbre used for dance and accompaniment.
Citole
Medieval stringed instrument ancestor of the lute and cittern; flat‑backed with distinctive shape.
Cello da spalla
Smaller cello held on shoulder; used for Baroque repertoire and historically informed performance.
Celtic harp
Smaller lever harp used in Celtic folk music; historically portable and diatonic.
Cor anglais
Also called English horn; alto oboe variant with plaintive, mellow tone often featured in orchestral solos.
Chromatic harmonica
Harmonica with button‑activated sliding tube to access all semitones; versatile in jazz, blues and classical.
Crotales
Small, tuned metal disks producing bright bell tones; used for shimmering, sustained pitches.
Chenda
Loud stick‑played drum central to Kerala temple and dance music, played vertically.
Chimta
Metal tongs fitted with cymbals used in Punjabi folk and devotional music for rhythmic accents.
Conch shell
Natural shell trumpet sounded by buzzing the lips into a hole; used in ritual, signaling and folk music.
Concert flute
Standard orchestral transverse flute in C; refined keywork and silver or wooden build.
Cello piccolo
Small, high‑pitched cello variant used in Baroque works and contemporary repertoire.
Crwth
Ancient Welsh bowed lyre with a haunting tone; revived by early‑music ensembles.
Cow horn
Simple natural horn made from cattle horn; blown as signal or ceremonial instrument in many cultures.
Cornamuse
Quiet capped reed instrument with cylindrical bore, similar family to crumhorn but softer timbre.
Cornemuse
French bagpipe type used in regional folk music; “cornemuse” commonly used in English for this tradition.