32 Musical Instruments That Start With B (2024)

Let’s explore instruments that start with B. There are more than you might think.

From banjos to bass guitars, bagpipes, bell lyres, bongo drums, bass clarinets, and more, there are lots of musical instruments that start with the letter B. Here’s a list.

As always, if you know of an instrument that starts with a B and it’s not on the list, let me know in the comments box. I’ll share it with other readers.

What Instrument Begins With The Letter B?

1. Banjo Ukulele

If you’re old enough to remember George Formby, then you’ll already know what a Banjo Ukulele is. If not, just like the bass guitar, it is a four-stringed instrument. It has a small drum-like body made of calfskin and a fretted neck. The Banjo is a popular instrument used in bluegrass music.

2. Bass guitar

First on the list is an instrument I imagine everyone is familiar with – the bass guitar. Just like electric and acoustic guitars, the bass guitar is a string instrument. But it has four strings, not six. The strings are also thicker to produce lower notes.

3. Bagpipes

Often associated with Scottish music and culture, Bagpipes need little introduction. You may, however, be surprised to learn that this instrument originated way back in 400 BC, in Eygpt, not Scotland. Playing the bagpipes can be difficult. You inflate the bag with air and use your fingers to produce sound by covering and uncovering holes on one or more pipe attached to the bag.

4. Bongo Drums

Do you like the sound of Latin American music? How about Brazilian or Trinidadian? If you do, Bongo Drums may be just what you’re looking for. As the name suggests, Bongo Drums are, well, drums. They come in a pair and one is bigger than the other to produce different sounds.

5. Balalaika

The Balalaika is a string musical instrument from Russia. What’s interesting about this particular string instrument is it only has three strings, two of which are tuned to play the exact same note. And, it’s shaped like a big triangle.

6. Bassoon

Next up is a versatile double reed instrument known for its deep resonant tone in the tenor and bass ranges: the Bassoon. To play the Bassoon while standing, a harness is needed. To be seated, players need to use a seat strap because the instrument is very big and tall.

7. Bugle

The Bugle is a simplified version of the trumpet: as in it has no valves or keys, so the sound produced with this brass instrument greatly depends on your embouchure skills. Traditionally, the Bugle was used to (and still is today) communicate duties on the battlefield, and more.

8. Bass Drum

You have, without a doubt, seen a bass drum before. It’s a percussion instrument used in concert bands and orchestras. Bass drums get less credit than they deserve because many people think you just pound on the drum, and that’s it. But there’s so much more to it than that. With the right technique, the bass drum adds energetic depth to music.

9. Bass Harmonica

Talking of bass, the bass harmonica, a member of the harmonica family since 1924, is another well-known instrument that’s guaranteed to add great depth to many styles of music, from jazz to classical. The bass harmonica has two to three octaves depending on the model you use.

10. Bouzouki

The Bouzouki is a guitar-like instrument that’s very popular in Greece. But you don’t strum this pear-shaped instrument, you pluck it with a pick. The Bouzouki was invented in the 1900s. It’s a member of the Lute family. And it sounds like a mandolin with a lower pitch.

11. Bass recorder

Here’s another instrument you’ll likely be familiar with since almost every primary school on planet earth teaches it. But usually, in school, you learn how to play the soprano recorder which has a higher range than the bass recorder. And, as you can see from the video above, the bass recorder is significantly bigger.

12. Baritone Saxophone

This is a single-reed instrument with a low to mid range used in all kinds of bands, including military, jazz, rock, and concerts. As the name suggests, it is a member of the Saxophone family. But it has a lower pitch than the tenor and a higher pitch than the bass.

13. Bass Clarinet

Since the mid-19th century, the Bass Clarinet is another instrument often used in orchestras and concert bands. But it’s not only used for classical music as many people think. Nope. The bass clarinet is perfect for jazz, blues, and occasional contemporary music solos.

14. Bell lyre

From large outdoor bell lyres secured to the ground in an upright position to free-standing ones that you hold in one hand or lay on a flat surface, bell lyres come in all different sizes. Many look like a U-shaped harp but instead of having strings, they have bells (usually eight).

15. Bass Trombone

The Bass Trombone is a trumpet-like instrument from the trombone family. With its deep, rich tone, and powerful bass resonance, it sounds great in orchestras, concert bands, jazz ensembles, and more, without overbearing accompanying instruments.

16. Bulbul Tarang

Next, I introduce you to a traditional Indian string instrument with a twist: the Bulbul Tarang. This unique and fascinating instrument has four strings all tuned to the same key and a keyboard that looks like an antique typewriter.

17. Bordonua

The Bordonua is a Spanish string instrument similar to the acoustic bass guitar. Traveling back in time to the 1920s, some Bordonuas were made to play melodies. But now, in the modern world, they are all made as bass guitars and primarily used in folk music.

18. Bombarde

The Bombarde or Talabard as it’s also known is a double-reed woodwind instrument from France where it was traditionally used to play Brenton music. It is also a member of the Shawm family which explains the instruments powerful sound similar to a trumpet.

19. Bodhrán

Next on the list is an ancient frame drum used to play traditional Irish music: the Bodhrán. The first time I saw this instrument it reminded me of the tambourine which is no surprise now that I know the Bodhrán evolved from the tambourine in the mid-19th century, according to the former editor of Irish music magazine, Ronan Nolan.

20. Bembe Drum

If you like the sound of African beats, you’ll love the Bembe Drum: a traditional West African hand drum made with wood and animal skin. This drum is available in many different shapes and sizes. You play it with your hand or with a stick.

22. Bandoneon

Originally intended for religious music between 1821 and 1860, the Bandoneon looks like an accordion but is actually a type of concertina used to play the tango. But that’s not all. It is also used worldwide to play classical, jazz, and folk music.

23. Box Zither

A Box Zither is a hollow wooden box with strings stretched across it. Like most string instruments, you pluck the strings to produce sound. They come in all different sizes and vary in appearance from country to country. Box Zithers are called Guzheng in China, and Koto in Japan. You can even make your own, as seen in video above.

24. Bandora

The Bandora is a vintage string instrument from the 16th century. Just like a lute, it has a pear-shaped body and a long fretted neck. It has a distinctive, bright, and lively tone. It was built by John Rosh in England where it remained popular throughout Renaissance.

25. Barbat

Talking of lutes, that’s what our next instrument, the Barbat is: a type of lute traditionally used in classical Persian music, Turkish, and Arabic music. Also known as Barbud, the Barbat typically has six strings and is played with a plectrum.

26. Baryton

So far, I have introduced you to many lute and guitar-like instruments. Let’s mix things up. Next, we have the Baryton: a bowed string instrument in the viol (violin) family. However. The Baryton is much bigger than a violin. Too big to rest on your shoulder. Instead, players hold it in an upright position while seated and supporting it with their legs.

27. Bass Oboe

Next, I introduce you to a beautiful double-reed woodwind instrument with a deep, full sound: the Bass Oboe, a.k.a Baritone Oboe, a member of the Obeo family. It is also a cousin of the English Horn and is primarily used for orchestral and chamber music.

28. Basset Horn

The Basset Horn, or Basset-Horn as it is commonly spelled, is a member of the clarinet family. But unlike the Clarinet, it is not a transporting instrument (meaning a C doesn’t sound like a B♭ or A). Typically, the Basset Horn has at least three octaves. Musical composers known to write for this instrument include Mozart.

29. Baritone Horn

Typically pitched in B-flat, this instrument, also known as just Baritone, is a brass instrument commonly used in marching bands and orchestras. It is a member of the saxhorn family, but due to its similar appearance and sound, it is often confused with the euphonium. To play this instrument, you hold it vertically, blow into the mouthpiece, and press valves to change pitch.

30. Baritone Ukulele

The Baritone Ukulele is a larger version of the traditional ukulele with a deeper and richer tone. It is a versatile instrument that can be used for a variety of music genres, including folk, country, blues, and jazz. It’s also a great instrument for accompanying singers due to its warm and mellow sound.

31. Balafon

From West Africa, the balafon is an instrument belonging to the percussion family. Just like a xylophone, it is made of wooden bars that are struck with mallets to produce different tones and pitches. Traditionally, it was played during important ceremonies and events such as weddings, funerals, and religious festivals. It was also used as a form of communication between villages.

32. Bolombatto

The Bolombatto is a traditional stringed instrument that features in the music of West Africa. It consists of four strings stretched over a gourd which serves as a resonator. The thickness of the strings determines how low the sound will be. The instrument also has a tin rattle attached to its body, which the musician plays by striking the strings and gourd simultaneously.

FAQ About Instruments That Start With B

Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions about instruments starting with B.

What percussion instrument begins with B?

There are actually quite a few percussion instruments starting with B, including:

• Bass drum
• Bongo drums
• Bell tree
• Bells
• Bougarabou
• Bodhran

What wind instruments begin with B?

Wind instruments that begin with B include:

• Bagpipe
• Bass Clarinet
• Bassoon
• Bassett Horn
• Bansuri
• Bombardeers
• Buccin

Conclusion

I hope this article has given you lots of ideas for new instruments to explore and maybe even learn. If you like this article, please share it on social media using the buttons below.

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