Musical instruments are things used to make music. Anything that somehow produces sound can be considered a musical instrument, but the term generally means items that are specifically for making music.

Musical instruments can be divided by type into:

• string instruments (plucked or bowed)
• wind instruments
  • woodwind
  • brass
• percussion instruments
• keyboard instruments

An orchestra has instruments from four families:

• bowed string instruments (e.g. violin)
• woodwind (e.g. flute)
• brass (e.g. trumpet)
• percussion (e.g. drums)

Some people think that the voice is a "natural musical instrument" because singing is a way to make music without any instrument at all.