Bowed string instrument


Bowed string instruments are a subcategory of string instruments that are played by a bow rubbing the strings. The bow rubbing the string causes vibration which the instrument emits as sound.
Despite the numerous specialist studies devoted to the origin of bowing, the origin of bowing remains unknown.

List of bowed string instruments

Violin family

;Variants on the standard members of the violin family include:

Viol family (Viola da Gamba family)

;Variants on the standard four members of the viol family include

Lyra and rebec type

Image:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Een rebabspeler TMnr 60052115.jpg|thumb|An Indonesian music performer playing with his Rebab.

Chinese bowed instruments

Image:Ehru played by blind man.jpg|thumb|Two performers playing the Erhu, sometimes known as the Chinese fiddle.

Rosined wheel instruments

Image:Mongolian Musician.jpg|thumb|A performer playing the Morin Khuur, the Mongolian Horse Fiddle
The following instruments are sounded by means of a turning wheel that acts as the bow:

Other bowed instruments