This list includes 21 Musical instruments that start with O, from “O-daiko” to “Overtone flute”. They range from large ritual drums to small wind and string instruments, used in performance, teaching, and folk music.
Musical instruments that start with O are named instruments whose common English names begin with the letter O. Notably, the O-daiko is central to Japanese festival music, while overtone flutes highlight simple harmonic sounds in many traditions.
Below you’ll find the table with family, origin, and materials.
Family: Shows the instrument’s broad classification, so you can quickly identify its playing method and sonic role.
Origin: Lists the geographic region and era, helping you understand cultural context and typical repertoire for each instrument.
Materials: Specifies primary construction materials so you can judge portability, timbre expectations, and basic care needs.
Musical instruments that start with O
| Name | Family | Origin | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oboe | Woodwind (double reed) | France — 17th c. | Grenadilla wood, metal keys, cane reed |
| Ocarina | Aerophone (vessel flute) | Global — Ancient (modern form Italy — 19th c.) | Ceramic, terracotta, plastic, wood |
| Organ | Keyboard (aerophone/electronic) | Ancient Greece — 3rd c. BCE | Wood, metal pipes, electronic components |
| Oud | Plucked string (lute) | Middle East — Medieval era | Wood, gut or nylon strings |
| Ophicleide | Brass (keyed bugle) | France — 19th c. | Brass, metal keys, leather pads |
| Ondes Martenot | Electronic | France — 1928 | Electronic components, wood casing, wire |
| Octobass | Bowed string | France — 1850 | Wood, metal, gut strings |
| Orpharion | Plucked string (lute) | England — 16th c. | Wood, metal strings, frets |
| Oliphant | Aerophone (natural horn) | Europe — 11th c. | Elephant tusk (ivory), metal |
| O-daiko | Membranophone (barrel drum) | Japan — Ancient | Wood, animal hide, metal tacks |
| Ocean Drum | Percussion (idiophone/membranophone) | Modern — 20th c. | Wood frame, animal or synthetic skin, metal beads |
| Oboe d’amore | Woodwind (double reed) | Germany — 18th c. | Wood, metal keys, cane reed |
| Oboe da caccia | Woodwind (double reed) | Germany — 18th c. | Wood, leather, brass bell |
| Organistrum | String (bowed/cranked) | Europe — 12th c. | Wood, gut strings, resin wheel |
| Octave Mandolin | Plucked string (mandolin family) | Europe/USA — 19th c. | Wood, metal strings, frets |
| Orutu | Bowed string (spike fiddle) | Kenya — Traditional | Wood, monitor lizard skin, sisal string |
| Oja | Aerophone (whistle flute) | Nigeria — Traditional | Wood, bamboo |
| Oporo | Aerophone (natural horn) | Kenya — Traditional | Gourd, animal horn |
| Otti | Woodwind (double reed) | India — Traditional | Wood, metal, cane reed |
| Okedo-daiko | Membranophone (barrel drum) | Japan — Traditional | Wood staves, hide, rope |
| Overtone flute | Aerophone (flute) | Global — Ancient | Wood, bamboo, river cane |
Descriptions
Oboe
A double-reed woodwind known for its clear, penetrating tone. A standard orchestral instrument, it often plays the initial tuning note for the ensemble.
Ocarina
An ancient wind instrument, a type of vessel flute. Its enclosed, globular shape gives it a distinctive, mellow tone. Often called a “sweet potato” flute.
Organ
A keyboard instrument producing sound by driving air through pipes or via electronic synthesis. Known for its vast tonal range and prominent role in sacred music.
Oud
A pear-shaped, fretless stringed instrument prominent in Middle Eastern and North African music. It is a direct ancestor of the European lute.
Ophicleide
A keyed brass instrument, essentially a bass bugle. It served as the bass of the brass section before being replaced by the tuba in the mid-19th century.
Ondes Martenot
An early electronic instrument with a keyboard and a ribbon controller. It creates eerie, wavering sounds similar to a theremin but with more precise pitch control.
Octobass
An enormous three-stringed instrument, standing over 11 feet (3.48 m) tall. It is the largest member of the violin family and is played using levers and pedals.
Orpharion
A Renaissance string instrument from the lute family, but with wire strings like a cittern. It has a distinctive scalloped outline and was prized for its bright sound.
Oliphant
A side-blown horn made from an elephant’s tusk, used in medieval Europe as a signal instrument and symbol of status. The name literally means “elephant.”
O-daiko
The largest drum in the Japanese taiko family. The name means “great drum,” and its powerful, deep sound is central to many festivals and performances.
Ocean Drum
A double-sided frame drum containing small beads or shot. When tilted, the beads roll across the drumhead, creating a sound reminiscent of ocean waves.
Oboe d’amore
A member of the oboe family, pitched a minor third lower than the standard oboe. It has a less assertive and more tranquil tone, famously used by J.S. Bach.
Oboe da caccia
A Baroque double-reed instrument, the “hunting oboe.” It has a curved wooden body and a flared brass bell, and is considered the ancestor of the English horn.
Organistrum
A large, early form of the hurdy-gurdy played by two people. One turned a crank to rotate a wheel against the strings, while the other pulled keys to change notes.
Octave Mandolin
A larger version of the mandolin, tuned one octave lower. It has a deeper, more resonant tone and is often used for melody and rhythm in folk music.
Orutu
A one-stringed fiddle from the Luo people of Western Kenya. The sound box is a hollowed wooden tube covered with skin, and it produces a distinct, vocal-like sound.
Oja
A carved wooden whistle flute used by the Igbo people of Nigeria. It has a sharp, piercing sound and is used to “speak” or mimic tonal language in ceremonies.
Oporo
A long side-blown horn of the Luo people in Kenya, made from gourds joined together. It produces a deep, resonant blast and is used for communication and ceremonies.
Otti
A double-reed instrument from South India, similar to the shehnai. It acts as a drone instrument, providing a constant pitch to accompany another melodic instrument.
Okedo-daiko
A type of Japanese taiko drum with a body made of staves, like a barrel. It is lighter than drums carved from a single log and is often carried with a strap.
Overtone flute
A simple flute without finger holes, played by varying breath pressure to produce a melody from the instrument’s natural harmonic series. Known by many regional names.