Which of the following is a common string instrument (chordophone)?

Which of the following is a common string instrument (chordophone)?

• A. Violin
• B. Oboe
• C. Trumpet
• D. Drum

Answer: (A)

Sound in this category comes from vibrating strings. A chordophone is an instrument where the primary sound source is the vibration of strings stretched over a resonant body. The violin fits this: its strings vibrate when bowed or plucked, and the body amplifies that vibration to produce pitch and tone. The other options don’t rely on vibrating strings. An oboe creates sound from air vibrating in a pipe over a double reed (a woodwind); a trumpet uses lips buzzing into a brass mouthpiece (a brass instrument); a drum produces sound when a stretched membrane is struck (a percussion instrument). So the violin is the common string instrument.

Sound in this category comes from vibrating strings. A chordophone is an instrument where the primary sound source is the vibration of strings stretched over a resonant body. The violin fits this: its strings vibrate when bowed or plucked, and the body amplifies that vibration to produce pitch and tone. The other options don’t rely on vibrating strings. An oboe creates sound from air vibrating in a pipe over a double reed (a woodwind); a trumpet uses lips buzzing into a brass mouthpiece (a brass instrument); a drum produces sound when a stretched membrane is struck (a percussion instrument). So the violin is the common string instrument.