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They have many string instruments but a vast majority of their string instruments are plucked. They have very few bowed string instruments like the violin or the cello. They have many lutes. They are divided into four types the Diassare, the Bappe, the Ndere, and the Molo. Another type of string instrument that they have is the zither. The best place to find a zither is on Madagascar. Harps are also an important type of string instrument.
Wind instruments consist of three different types. One type of instrument is the whistle. They are sometime gathered into big groups and they can play very complex music. Africans also use a lot of flutes in their music. The flutes have far fewer finger holes then are American flutes do. Trumpets and other horns are also used in African music.
There are two types of percussion instruments, drums and keyboards. The keyboards are divided into two sections, xylophones, and sanzas. Xylophones are an instrument where you hit the keys with mallets. Sanzas are played by pushing keys that are like little metal strips--the strip makes a sound like a steel drum as it bends. Drums are usually thought of when someone outside of Africa thinks of Africa music. Although drums are very important and there are many different forms of drums so are the other instruments that give African music is distinct sound.
Find out when and where you can hear African music on Public Radio in the United States