Musical Instruments Musical instruments are essential tools to produce beautiful melodies. Myriad instruments have been born in the long history. According to the different performing methods, musical instruments can be classified into three categories: string instrument, wind instrument and percussion instrument. String instrument is an instrument which produces sound from strings’ vibration. During performance, performers use their fingers or some tools like plectrums to pluck the strings to make sounds. There are many popular string instruments both in China and foreign countries. For example, in western countries, there are guitars, piano, harp and violin. Back in China, we have traditional instruments like Pipa, Guzheng, Yangqin and Erhu. Wind instrument is an instrument which creates sound from the vibration of air in the tubes. Musicians use their lips and tongues to change the flow of air in the instruments in order to produce different keys. Based on materials, wind instrument can be divided into brass instrument and woodwind instrument. Brass like saxophone and trumpet is more popular in western countries while woodwind like Dizi and Xiao is more common in chinses history. Percussion instrument is an instrument which is sounded by being struck. Performers use their bare hand or something like sticks to struck the instruments to produce sound. In foreign countries, especially those in Africa, drums are really popular. And in our own history, we have things like chime bells and Luo. Instruments are the foundation to produce beautiful music. The more we learn from their function, the better we use them.