Stringed Instruments

String instruments, stringed instruments, or chordophones are musical instruments that produce sound from vibrating strings when the performer plays or sounds the strings in some manner.

Musicians play some string instruments by plucking the strings with their fingers or a plectrum—and others by hitting the strings with a light wooden hammer or by rubbing the strings with a bow. In some keyboard instruments, such as the harpsichord, the musician presses a key that plucks the string.

With bowed instruments, the player rubs the strings with a horsehair bow, causing them to vibrate. With a hurdy-gurdy, the musician operates a mechanical wheel that rubs the strings.

Bowed instruments include the string section instruments of the Classical music orchestra (violin, viola, cello and double bass) and a number of other instruments (e.g., viols and gambas used in early music from the Baroque music era and fiddles used in many types of folk music). All of the bowed string instruments can also be plucked with the fingers, a technique called "pizzicato". A wide variety of techniques are used to sound notes on the electric guitar, including plucking with the fingernails or a plectrum, strumming and even "tapping" on the fingerboard and using feedback from a loud, distorted guitar amplifier to produce a sustained sound. Some types of string instrument are mainly plucked, such as the harp and the electric bass. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, string instruments are called chordophones. Other examples include the sitar, rebab, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, and bouzouki.

In most string instruments, the vibrations are transmitted to the body of the instrument, which often incorporates some sort of hollow or enclosed area. The body of the instrument also vibrates, along with the air inside it. The vibration of the body of the instrument and the enclosed hollow or chamber make the vibration of the string more audible to the performer and audience. The body of most string instruments is hollow. Some, however—such as electric guitar and other instruments that rely on electronic amplification—may have a solid wood body.

* Description and images provided by Wikipedia under CC-BY-SA 3.0 license .

Matching Stringed Instruments Colleges

The Juilliard School

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $51,230 average out-state tuition; $51,230 average in-state tuition

The New England Conservatory of Music

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $52,730 average out-state tuition; $52,730 average in-state tuition

Yale University

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $59,950 average out-state tuition; $59,950 average in-state tuition

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $49,300 average out-state tuition; $49,300 average in-state tuition

Rice University

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $52,070 average out-state tuition; $52,070 average in-state tuition

Manhattan School of Music

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $49,850 average out-state tuition; $49,850 average in-state tuition

Northwestern University

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $60,276 average out-state tuition; $60,276 average in-state tuition

Scholarships for Stringed Instruments Majors

Bullet name award deadline Link
 

Beinecke Scholarship - Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College

$34,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Beinecke Scholarship is open to juniors at Dartmouth College who plan to enter a master's or doctoral program in the arts, humanities or social sciences. You must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Marian Islands and demonstrate financial need to qualify for this award. In addition,...

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Beinecke Scholarship - Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College

award

$34,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Beinecke Scholarship is open to juniors at Dartmouth College who plan to enter a master's or doctoral program in the arts, humanities or social sciences. You must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Marian Islands and demonstrate financial need to qualify for this award. In addition,...

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Nancy Shaw McKee Scholarship

Clarion University of Pennsylvania, College of Arts and Sciences

Up to $22,030 Varies See Details

Description

The Nancy Shaw McKee Scholarship is available to majoring in the College of Arts and Sciences at Clarion University. Your selection for this award will be based on academic performance and financial need. In order to be considered for this award, you must first be nominated by a faculty member. Once nominated, you will need to submit a "Goals...

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Nancy Shaw McKee Scholarship

Clarion University of Pennsylvania, College of Arts and Sciences

award

Up to $22,030

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Nancy Shaw McKee Scholarship is available to majoring in the College of Arts and Sciences at Clarion University. Your selection for this award will be based on academic performance and financial need. In order to be considered for this award, you must first be nominated by a faculty member. Once nominated, you will need to submit a "Goals...

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Sturgis Fellowship

University of Arkansas

$20,000 February 01, 2026 See Details

Description

The Sturgis Fellowship is available to incoming freshmen who plan on majoring in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas. You must demonstrate exceptional academic performance to be considered for this renewable award. In addition, you must have a minimum 30 ACT/1320 SAT score and a minimum 3.8 GPA to be...

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Sturgis Fellowship

University of Arkansas

award

$20,000

deadline

February 01, 2026
See Details

Description

The Sturgis Fellowship is available to incoming freshmen who plan on majoring in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas. You must demonstrate exceptional academic performance to be considered for this renewable award. In addition, you must have a minimum 30 ACT/1320 SAT score and a minimum 3.8 GPA to be...

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Fine Arts Fellowship - Wabash College

Wabash College

Up to $15,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Fine Arts Fellowship is open to students attending Wabash College and studying visual arts, creative writing, music or theater. The requirements for applying vary with each field. This scholarship is renewable annually, provided you maintain normal progress towards graduation.

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Fine Arts Fellowship - Wabash College

Wabash College

award

Up to $15,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Fine Arts Fellowship is open to students attending Wabash College and studying visual arts, creative writing, music or theater. The requirements for applying vary with each field. This scholarship is renewable annually, provided you maintain normal progress towards graduation.

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Arts and Music Scholarship - Rhodes College

Rhodes College

Up to $12,500 February 15, 2026 See Details

Description

The Arts and Music Scholarship is available to entering freshmen at Rhodes College. You must plan to major or minor in art, music, or theatre to be eligible for this award. Music and theatre applicants must audition and art applicants must submit slides.

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Arts and Music Scholarship - Rhodes College

Rhodes College

award

Up to $12,500

deadline

February 15, 2026
See Details

Description

The Arts and Music Scholarship is available to entering freshmen at Rhodes College. You must plan to major or minor in art, music, or theatre to be eligible for this award. Music and theatre applicants must audition and art applicants must submit slides.

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Lawrence M. and Louise Kresge Isaacs Endowment for Music

Susquehanna University

Up to $12,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Lawrence M. & Louise Kresge Isaacs Endowment for Music is available to students at Susquehanna University. To receive the award, you must take part in an audition with the music faculty and demonstrate high academic achievement.

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Lawrence M. and Louise Kresge Isaacs Endowment for Music

Susquehanna University

award

Up to $12,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Lawrence M. & Louise Kresge Isaacs Endowment for Music is available to students at Susquehanna University. To receive the award, you must take part in an audition with the music faculty and demonstrate high academic achievement.

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Filene Music Scholarship

Skidmore College

$12,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Filene Music Scholarship is available to talented music students interested in majoring in any academic area; awarded through a performance competition open to high school seniors who meet the criteria for admission to Skidmore College.

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Filene Music Scholarship

Skidmore College

award

$12,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Filene Music Scholarship is available to talented music students interested in majoring in any academic area; awarded through a performance competition open to high school seniors who meet the criteria for admission to Skidmore College.

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Nordan Fine Arts Program Award - Texas Christian University

Texas Christian University

$10,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Nordan Fine Arts Program Award is open to students at Texas Christian University. You must demonstrate exceptional talent in art, ballet, modern dance, music or theatre to be eligible for this award.

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Nordan Fine Arts Program Award - Texas Christian University

Texas Christian University

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Nordan Fine Arts Program Award is open to students at Texas Christian University. You must demonstrate exceptional talent in art, ballet, modern dance, music or theatre to be eligible for this award.

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STEM Scholarship

For A Bright Future Foundation

Up to $10,000 May 31, 2025 See Details

Description

The STEM Scholarship is open to underrepresented and underprivileged high school and undergraduate students. You must be pursuing a degree in sustainability and S.T.E.M, have a 3.0 GPA and planning to enroll at a college or university in the United States to be eligible for this award.

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STEM Scholarship

For A Bright Future Foundation

award

Up to $10,000

deadline

May 31, 2025
See Details

Description

The STEM Scholarship is open to underrepresented and underprivileged high school and undergraduate students. You must be pursuing a degree in sustainability and S.T.E.M, have a 3.0 GPA and planning to enroll at a college or university in the United States to be eligible for this award.

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For a Brighter Future Foundation Creative Arts Scholarship

For A Bright Future Foundation

Up to $10,000 May 31, 2025 See Details

Description

The For a Brighter Future Foundation Creative Arts Scholarship is open to underrepresented and underprivileged exceptional students who are pursuing a degree in creative media and storytelling. To be considered for this award, you must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and demonstrate academic excellence and involvement in your community or workplace.

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For a Brighter Future Foundation Creative Arts Scholarship

For A Bright Future Foundation

award

Up to $10,000

deadline

May 31, 2025
See Details

Description

The For a Brighter Future Foundation Creative Arts Scholarship is open to underrepresented and underprivileged exceptional students who are pursuing a degree in creative media and storytelling. To be considered for this award, you must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and demonstrate academic excellence and involvement in your community or workplace.

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