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
- Cello (violoncello)
- Pochette
- Viola (altviol, bratsche)
- Violin (violino)
- Double bass (contrabasso)
;Variants on the standard members of the violin family include:
- Baroque violin
- Cello da spalla
- Five string violin
- Hardanger fiddle
- Kit violin
- Kontra
- Låtfiol
- Lira da braccio
- Octobass
- Sardino
- Stroh violin
- Tenor violin
Viol family (Viola da Gamba family)
- Alto viol
- Bass viol
- Tenor viol
- Treble viol
;Variants on the standard four members of the viol family include
- Baryton
- Division viol
- Lirone
- Lyra viol
- Pardessus de viol
- Vihuela de arco
- Violone
- Viola d'amore
Lyra and rebec type
thumb|An Indonesian music performer playing with his [[Rebab.]]
- Byzantine lyra
- Calabrian lira
- Cretan lyra
- Gadulka
- Ghaychak
- Kamancheh
- Kemençe
- Kemenche
- Kemenche (classical)
- Lijerica
- Pochette
- Rabeca
- Rebab
- Rebec
- Shah Kaman
Chinese bowed instruments
thumb|Two performers playing the [[Erhu, sometimes known as the Chinese fiddle.]]
- Banhu
- Daguangxian
- Dahu
- Dihu
- Diyingehu
- Erhu
- Erxian
- Gaohu
- Gehu
- Huqin
- Jiaohu
- Jinghu
- Jing erhu
- Laruan
- Leiqin
- Maguhu
- Matouqin
- Sanhu
- Sihu
- Tiqin
- Tihu
- Tuhu
- Wenzhenqin
- Xiqin
- Yazheng
- Yehu
- Zhengni
- Zhonghu
- Zhuiqin
- Zhuihu
Rosined wheel instruments
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:
- Bowed clavier
- Donskoy ryley
- Dulcigurdy a.k.a.
- Drejelire
- Harmonichord
- Hurdy-gurdy
- Kaisatsuko
- Lira
- Ninera
- Organistrum
- Tekerő
- Viola organista
- Violano Virtuoso
- Wheelharp
Other bowed instruments
- Agiarut
- Ajaeng
- Arpeggione
- Bowed dulcimer
- Bowed guitar
- Bowed psaltery
- Byzaanchy
- Chuurqin
- Crwth
- Đàn nhị
- Đàn hồ
- Đàn gáo
- Daxophone
- Esraj
- Fiðla
- Gadulka
- Ghaychak
- Giga
- Gudok
- Gue
- Gusle
- Haegeum
- Huqin
- Igil
- Imzad
- Jouhikko
- Kingri
- Kokyū
- Kobyz
- Masenqo
- Morin khuur
- Musical saw
- Neola
- Nyckelharpa
- Ravanahatha
- Salo
- Sarangi
- Sarangi (Nepali)
- Sarinda
- Saw duang
- Saw sam sai
- Saw u
- Shichepshin
- Sohaegeum
- Sorahi
- Sorud
- Talharpa
- Tautirut
- Tro sau thom
- Tro Khmer
- Tro sau toch
- Tro u
- Umbang
- Vielle
- Violoncello da spalla
- Yaylı tambur
See also
- Bow stroke