Here you’ll find 59 Musical instruments that start with T, organized from “Tabla” to “Tzouras”. Many are traditional instruments central to regional music styles, with several also common in modern ensembles.
Musical instruments that start with T are playable devices used to produce musical sound across percussion, strings, winds, keyboards, and electronics. Several have notable cultural roles, for example the tabla in South Asian classical music.
Below you’ll find the table with family, origin, and materials.
Family: Shows each instrument’s broad category so you can quickly compare sound sources and playing styles.
Origin: Lists country or region and era to help you understand cultural context and historical background.
Materials: Notes primary construction materials so you can gauge tone, durability, and basic care needs.
Musical instruments that start with T
| Name | Family | Origin | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tabor | Percussion (drum) | Europe — medieval | Wood shell, animal-skin head, rope tension |
| Tabla | Percussion (membranophone) | North India — classical | Wood shells, goatskin heads, metal rings |
| Tambourine | Percussion (frame drum) | Mediterranean/Europe — ancient to modern | Wood frame, jingles, skin or synthetic head |
| Tamborim | Percussion (small drum) | Brazil — samba tradition | Plastic or wood shell, synthetic head, nylon beater |
| Tambura (Balkan) | Plucked string (long-neck lute) | Balkans — traditional | Hardwood body, metal strings |
| Tanpura | Plucked string (drone lute) | India — classical | Hollow gourd/wood body, metal strings, bridge |
| Tanbur | Plucked string (long-neck lute) | Central Asia/Turkey — traditional | Wood body, metal or gut strings |
| Timpani | Percussion (kettledrum) | Europe — orchestral | Copper or fiberglass bowl, calfskin or synthetic head |
| Timbales | Percussion (tuned drum) | Cuba — 20th century | Steel shells or wood, skin or synthetic heads |
| Tom-tom | Percussion (drum) | Global — modern drum kits | Wood shell, synthetic head |
| Triangle | Percussion (idiophone) | Europe — classical and folk | Steel bar |
| Tongue drum | Percussion (idiophone) | Modern/global — contemporary revival | Steel or wood body with cut tongues |
| Teponaztli (Teponaxtli) | Percussion (slit drum) | Central Mexico — pre-Columbian | Hollowed wood with carved tongues |
| Tavil (Thavil) | Percussion (drum) | South India — temple music | Wooden barrel, animal skin heads |
| Taiko | Percussion (drum) | Japan — traditional to modern | Wood body, cowhide heads |
| Tar (Persian tar) | Plucked string (lute) | Iran/Azerbaijan — classical | Mulberry wood body, skin, metal strings |
| Tambur (Turkish tambur) | Plucked string (long-neck lute) | Turkey/Ottoman — classical | Long wooden neck, metal strings, wooden soundbox |
| Tarhu | Plucked string (modern hybrid) | Australia/Turkey — contemporary | Wood body, composite materials, steel strings |
| Tzouras | Plucked string (small bouzouki) | Greece — rebetiko/folk | Wood body, metal strings |
| Tiple | Plucked string (small guitar) | Colombia/Latin America — traditional | Wood body, metal strings |
| Timple | Plucked string (small guitar) | Canary Islands — folk | Wood body, nylon strings |
| Tenor guitar | Plucked string (guitar family) | Ireland/USA — 20th century | Wood body, steel or nylon strings |
| Tenor banjo | Plucked string (banjo) | USA/Ireland — early 20th century | Wood rim, skin or synthetic head, metal strings |
| Tenor saxophone | Aerophone (single-reed) | USA — 19th–20th century | Brass body, single reed mouthpiece |
| Tenor horn | Aerophone (brass) | Britain — brass-band tradition | Brass body, valves, mouthpiece |
| Trombone | Aerophone (brass) | Europe — Renaissance to modern | Brass tubing, slide, mouthpiece |
| Trumpet | Aerophone (brass) | Ancient to modern — global | Brass body, valves, mouthpiece |
| Tuba | Aerophone (brass) | Europe — 19th century | Brass tubing, large bell, valves |
| Tromba marina | Bowed string (monochord) | Medieval Europe — 14th–17th century | Wood body, single string, bridge |
| Tarogato (tárogató) | Aerophone (single-reed) | Hungary/Romania — folk to modern | Wooden body, single reed mouthpiece |
| Theremin | Electronic (electrophone) | USA — 1920s | Metal antennas, electronic circuits |
| Tin whistle | Aerophone (fipple flute) | Ireland/UK — 19th century | Metal tube, fipple mouthpiece |
| Transverse flute | Aerophone (flute) | Global — ancient to modern | Wood or metal body with keys |
| Tarka | Aerophone (flute) | Andes (Peru/Bolivia) — traditional | Wood or cane, block mouthpiece |
| Tingsha | Percussion (small cymbals) | Tibet/Nepal — ritual | Bronze or brass cymbals with cord |
| Tsuur | Aerophone (flute) | Mongolia — pastoral | Wood or reed |
| Toy piano | Percussion/keyboard | USA/Germany — 20th century | Wooden case, tuned metal rods |
| Tonette | Aerophone (fipple flute) | USA — mid 20th century | Plastic |
| Tumba | Percussion (conga family) | Cuba/Latin America — Afro-Cuban | Wood or fiberglass shell, skin head |
| Tumbi | Plucked string (single-string lute) | Punjab (India) — folk | Wood peg, single metal string |
| Tambora | Percussion (two-headed drum) | Dominican Republic — merengue | Wood shell, animal skin heads |
| Tsymbaly | Percussion (hammered dulcimer) | Ukraine/Eastern Europe — traditional | Wood soundbox, metal strings, hammers |
| Tabor pipe | Aerophone (pipe) | Europe — medieval and folk | Wood, three holes |
| Tam-tam | Percussion (gong) | Asia/Europe — orchestral and ceremonial | Bronze or brass |
| Tabla tarang | Percussion (tuned drums) | India — classical | Multiple tuned tabla shells, skins |
| Talking drum | Percussion (hourglass drum) | West Africa — traditional | Wood body, skin heads, tension cords |
| Tapan | Percussion (large drum) | Balkans/Turkey — folk | Wooden shell, animal skin heads |
| Turntable | Electronic (performing device) | Global — 20th century | Motorized platter, tonearm, electronics |
| Theorbo | Plucked string (lute family) | Italy/Europe — Baroque | Wood body, extended neck, gut strings |
| Trutruka | Aerophone (natural trumpet) | Mapuche/Chile — indigenous | Bamboo or metal tube, horn mouthpiece |
| Trikitixa | Aerophone (diatonic accordion) | Basque Country — folk | Wood, bellows, metal reeds |
| Thundersheet | Percussion (idiophone/effect) | Modern orchestral — 20th century | Large thin metal sheet |
| Tenor recorder | Aerophone (recorder) | Europe — Renaissance to modern | Wood or plastic |
| Tassa | Percussion (kettle drum) | South Asia/Caribbean — Indo-Caribbean | Metal kettle, membrane skin |
| Telharmonium | Electronic (electromechanical) | USA — 1890s | Tone wheels, dynamos, large cabinet |
| Tanggu | Percussion (barrel drum) | China — traditional | Wooden shell, skin heads |
| Tan-tan | Percussion (hand drum) | Brazil — samba | Wood or fiberglass shell, skin head |
| Tubular bells | Percussion (idiophone) | Western orchestra — 19th century | Tuned metal tubes, frame |
| Tamburitza | Plucked string (family of lutes) | Croatia/Balkans — folk | Wood body, metal strings |
Descriptions
Tabor
Small medieval snare drum played with one hand while the other plays a pipe; used in military and folk music.
Tabla
Pair of tuned hand drums central to Hindustani music; one high-pitched dayan and one bass bayan, played with intricate finger techniques.
Tambourine
Frame drum with metal jingles played by shaking, striking or thumb-roll; common in folk, gospel and popular music.
Tamborim
Small, shallow drum struck with a stick or beater for sharp, cutting rhythms in samba and Brazilian ensembles.
Tambura (Balkan)
Long-necked plucked lute used for melody and accompaniment in Balkan folk music.
Tanpura
Long-necked drone lute that provides a harmonic drone underpinning Indian classical performance.
Tanbur
Long-necked fretted lute used across Middle Eastern and Central Asian music, often played with plectrum for modal melodies.
Timpani
Tunable kettle drums struck with mallets; provide pitched percussion and rhythmic foundation in orchestras.
Timbales
Shallow paired drums played with sticks; central to Cuban dance music and Latin ensembles.
Tom-tom
Cylindrical drums mounted in drum kits, played with sticks; used widely in rock, jazz and pop.
Triangle
Small steel triangle struck with a beater producing a bright, ringing tone used for color and accents.
Tongue drum
Hollow instrument with tuned tongues struck by mallets, producing soft, bell-like melodic tones.
Teponaztli (Teponaxtli)
Aztec wooden slit drum played with mallets for ritual music and signals; carved tongues yield different pitches.
Tavil (Thavil)
Loud barrel drum played with hand and stick, commonly accompanies the nadaswaram in South Indian temple music.
Taiko
Large Japanese drums used in ensemble and festival performance, played with thick sticks for dynamic visual and musical impact.
Tar (Persian tar)
Double-bowl long-necked lute central to Persian classical music, with a rich, resonant tone.
Tambur (Turkish tambur)
Ottoman/Turkish long-necked lute played with a plectrum, used for modal Ottoman music.
Tarhu
Contemporary hybrid instrument inspired by Middle Eastern lutes, playable bowed or plucked with diverse timbres.
Tzouras
Small bouzouki-like instrument with higher pitch used in Greek folk and urban music.
Tiple
Small 10-string guitar-like instrument used in Colombian folk music with bright, chiming sound.
Timple
Five-string small guitar similar to a ukulele, used in Canarian folk music.
Tenor guitar
Four- or five-string guitar tuned in a tenor range; used in jazz, folk and Irish ensembles.
Tenor banjo
Four-string banjo used in jazz, skiffle and Irish trad; typically played with plectrum.
Tenor saxophone
Medium-range saxophone central to jazz and popular music; warm tone and flexible expression.
Tenor horn
Conical brass instrument used in British brass bands for mellow mid-range lines.
Trombone
Slide brass instrument allowing continuous pitch changes; used in orchestral, jazz and brass band music.
Trumpet
Bright, high-register brass instrument used across genres; modern valves enable chromatic playing.
Tuba
Largest orchestral brass instrument providing deep bass foundation in bands and orchestras.
Tromba marina
Unusual bowed monochord that produces a trumpet-like drone via special bridge construction; historical instrument.
Tarogato (tárogató)
Conical single-reed instrument with a reedy, piercing timbre used in Hungarian folk and modern contexts.
Theremin
Early electronic instrument played without touch; hand proximity to antennas controls pitch and volume.
Tin whistle
Simple six-holed flute widely used in Irish and British folk music; bright, penetrating tone.
Transverse flute
Side-blown flute held horizontally; modern keyed metal flute is standard in orchestras and bands.
Tarka
Chunky wooden vertical flute used in Andean music; earthy, breathy sound often in communal dances.
Tingsha
Small paired cymbals used in Tibetan ritual and meditation; produce clear, sustained ringing tones.
Tsuur
End-blown flute used by Mongolian herders, noted for breathy tone and overtone-rich melodies.
Toy piano
Compact keyboard instrument with struck metal rods producing bell-like sounds; used in children’s music and experimental works.
Tonette
Simple plastic fipple flute used widely in music education for beginners.
Tumba
Largest conga drum delivering deep bass tones in Afro-Cuban and Latin music ensembles.
Tumbi
Small single-stringed Punjabi instrument producing a rhythmic drone, central to Bhangra.
Tambora
Double-headed drum struck with hand and stick, driving merengue dance rhythms.
Tsymbaly
Eastern European hammered dulcimer played with small mallets for bright, shimmering chords.
Tabor pipe
Small three-holed flute played with one hand while the other plays the tabor drum; used in medieval and folk music.
Tam-tam
Large flat gong producing sustained, complex overtones; used for dramatic orchestral and ceremonial effects.
Tabla tarang
Set of several small tuned tabla drums arranged to play melodic patterns by a single performer.
Talking drum
Hourglass-shaped drum whose pitch is changed by squeezing cords; historically used to mimic speech and send messages.
Tapan
Large double-headed drum struck with mallets, prominent in Balkan and Turkish folk ensembles.
Turntable
Originally a playback device reimagined as an instrument by DJs—used for mixing, scratching and live sound manipulation.
Theorbo
Large lute with extended neck and extra bass strings used for basso continuo accompaniment in Baroque music.
Trutruka
Long rustic trumpet-like instrument used in Mapuche ceremonies; produces a powerful droning sound.
Trikitixa
Basque diatonic button accordion central to traditional dance music and the trikitixa ensemble.
Thundersheet
Thin metal sheet struck or shaken to mimic thunder in orchestral and theatrical sound effects.
Tenor recorder
Recorder voice in the middle register, commonly used in consort and early music ensembles.
Tassa
Indo-Caribbean kettle drum used in festival, procession and wedding music, played with sticks and hands.
Telharmonium
Early electromechanical instrument that generated electrical tones for transmission—an important precursor to later electronic instruments.
Tanggu
Chinese barrel drum used in opera and traditional ensembles, played with sticks for strong rhythmic patterns.
Tan-tan
Hand-played drum producing bass lines in samba and pagode ensembles.
Tubular bells
Set of vertically suspended tuned metal tubes struck with hammers to produce bell-like orchestral tones.
Tamburitza
Small family of Balkan lutes (tamburitza) used in folk ensembles; variations differ in size and tuning.