French Folk Music Instruments You Need to Know About

French folk music is a great way to get in touch with your roots. There are a variety of instruments used in this genre, each with its own unique sound. In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to some of the most popular French folk music instruments.

Introduction

Music has always played an important role in French culture. There are many different genres of music that originate from France, including pop, rock, jazz, electronic, and of course, folk music.

Folk music is a genre that is often associated with rural communities and traditionally features acoustic instruments. In recent years, however, there has been a revival of interest in folk music from all over the world, and French folk music is no exception.

If you’re interested in learning more about French folk music, or if you’re just curious about the different types of instruments used in this genre, read on for a list of some of the most common ones.

The fiddle

The fiddle is one of the most popular folk music instruments in France. It is a string instrument that is played with a bow. The fiddle has a long neck and a small body, and it is held under the chin. The fiddle is usually made of wood, and the strings are made of gut or horsehair. The fiddle is used in many different genres of folk music, including Celtic, Breton, and Provençal music.

The accordion

The accordion is a portable, free-reed musical instrument, played by compressing or expanding the bellows while pressing buttons or keys, causing pallets to open, which allow air to flow across reeds that produce sound. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist. The concertina and bandoneón are related; they are also free-reed instruments that are button-operated.

The origin of the name “accordion” is unknown, but may come from the German Akkordeon or Akkordyon, French Harmonium or Accordéon, Italian Fisarmonica or Fiscorno, Russian Garmoshka гармошка) or Garmon’ , Swedish Harmonika , Norwegian Kontrabasharpe , Armenian Կարմոս Karmsos , Bulgarian Акордеон/Akordeon , Greek Ακκορντεόν/Akkordeón . According to Magoniste Gustave Vogt’s Etymologies du mot harmonium (1895) and Jean Nicolas Victor Geissmar’s Dictionnaire etymologique de l’harmonium (1898), this is probably one of many musical instrument names derived from ancient Greek ἁρμονία harmonia meaning concordance/agreement/consonance. There is also evidence (see below) that some form of reed organ was played in ancient Egypt as early as 2000 BCE.

The guitar

Les guitars are a staple in most French folk music. They can be Martin guitars, Gibson acoustics, or even Fenders. The most popular French guitar is the Selmer-Maccaferri guitar, which was used by Django Reinhardt.

The hurdy-gurdy

The hurdy-gurdy is a stringed instrument that is played by turning a handle that runs a wheel against the strings. It is similar to a violin in that it has a neck and strings, but it has a box-shaped body with a wooden soundboard. The hurdy-gurdy was popular in France during the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods, and it is still used in folk music today.

The most distinctive feature of the hurdy-gurdy is the way it is played. The player turns a handle, which runs a wheel against the strings. This produces a continuous drone, which can be varied by changing the pressure of the wheel on the strings or by using different stops (keys) on the fingerboard to change the length of the strings that are vibrating.

The sound of the hurdy-gurdy is unique, and it can be used to play a wide range of music, from traditional folk tunes to more modern pieces. If you’re interested in exploring this fascinating instrument, check out our list of recommended hurdy-gurdies for beginners.

The bagpipe

The bagpipe is a reed instrument that has a long, flexible tube with a bellows attached. The player blows into the tube to inflate the bag, then squeezes the bag to force air through the reed pipes. Bagpipes are traditionally used in folk music, but they can also be found in classical and popular music.

There are many different types of bagpipes, each with its own unique sound. The most common type of bagpipe is the Great Highland Bagpipe, which is used in Scottish and Irish folk music. Other popular types of bagpipes include theLowland Scottish bags, theBorder pipes, and the Iranian dohrān.

Bagpipes are often considered to be one of the most challenging instruments to play, due to their complex design and intricate fingering patterns. However, with practice, anyone can learn how to play this fascinating instrument.

The tambourine

The tambourine is a French folk music instrument that is often used in conjunction with other instruments, such as the accordion, fiddle, or guitar. It is a small, handheld drum that is played by striking it with the hands or sticks. The tambourine usually has two sets of jingles (metal discs) that create a rattling sound when the tambourine is shaken.

The tambourine originated in ancient Egypt and was later adopted by the Greeks and Romans. It eventually made its way to France, where it became a popular folk music instrument. Today, the tambourine is still used in French folk music, as well as in many other genres of music around the world.

The triangle

An integral part of any French folk band is the triangle. This hand-held percussion instrument is also known as a sleigh bell or cowbell, and produces a high-pitched, tinkling sound. It is played by striking it with a beater, and is often used to keep time or mark the end of a phrase. The triangle is most commonly associated with Christmas music, but can be heard throughout the year in French folk bands.

The bouzouki

The bouzouki is a traditional Greek stringed instrument that is also popular in French folk music. It has a long neck and a pear-shaped body, and it is played with a pick. The bouzouki has a distinctive, bright sound that can be heard in many French folk songs.

The viola

The viola is a member of the violin family, and is the middle voice in that family. Slightly larger than a violin, the viola has a lower and deeper sound. It is most often tuned in fifths, like other members of the violin family.