Stringed instruments (violin, viola, cello, bass) are cousins of the piano as they make music with strings vibrating to a certain pitch. But they are different in the sense that the strings of a piano are struck with hammers to create sound, where as a violin player uses a bow to create sound. Sometimes, however, a violinist or other string player plucks the strings with their fingers (as directed in the music as pizzicato). Violin, viola, cello, and bass are not exclusively orchestral instruments. These versatile instruments are used in jazz, country, bluegrass, and other types of music.

A hammered dulcimer is very similar to piano in that strings are struck with hammers to produce tones. Unlike the piano, all the strings of a hammered dulcimer are exposed and easily accessed by the musician. As many as four strings can be struck at the same time to produce chords. The player holds two (sometimes four) shaped wooden hammers, playing the strings in combination to produce chords and melodies. A hammered dulcimer is found predominately in folk music and is known for it’s unique sound.

Even more similar to the piano is the harpsichord, as it has a similar keyboard and notes are produced by plucking (striking) the strings. A great deal of music written for harpsichord can be played on piano (and vice versa) although the sound (and essentially, the style) is different for each instrument.

Other stringed instruments include guitar, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, and harp. All these instruments are tuned in the same way (in the same key) as piano. There is no transposing needed by the pianist (as is required for other instruments such as trumpet and sax). All the notes produced by these instruments can be found on the piano’s range of over eight octaves (where a guitar for example, has a range of only four and-a-half octaves).

Tuning of all stringed instruments, including piano, is done by tightening or loosening the tension of a particular string. As a string is tightened, it is made shorter and thus, vibrates faster and at a higher frequency. Also, the thinner the string, the higher the pitch. The higher pitched strings of a piano are made with piano wire alone, whereas the lower sounding string are wrapped with brass, bronze, or other metal wrapped tightly around a core of piano. Although they may be made out of the same material and in the same fashion, Piano strings are not used on guitar nor are guitar strings typically used on a mandolin, banjo, or ukulele.

The sound of a stringed instrument is created note only by the sound of the strings themselves vibrating, but the strings causing other parts of the instrument to vibrate as well. For example, a guitar’s top (more so than its back and sides) contributes to the sound of the instrument. The same is true of the mandolin and other members of the string family. The soundboard, harp, and basic framework of a piano all contribute to it’s unique sound, As a general rule, the better quality the components, the better the tone of the instrument (with the type and age of the wood being the biggest contributor)