Electrophones

It is a class of musical instruments in which the initial sound

is produced by electronic means or conventionally (as by a
vibrating string) and this sound is electronically amplified.
Some instruments that use electronic means of generating
sound are: the theremin, the ondes martenot, electronic
organs, and electronic music synthesizers.
On the other hand, electronically amplified conventional
instruments include guitars, pianos, and others.
 Electronic
Early electronic musical
musical instruments
instruments:
The theremin is an early
electronic musical instrument
controlled without physical
contact by the thereminist
(performer). It was invented in
1920 in the Soviet Union by
Leon Theremin. It consists of a
box with radio tubes producing
oscillations at two sound-wave
frequencies above the range of
hearing.
The Ondes martenot, also
“musical waves”, is an
early electronic musical
instrument invented in
1928 in France by Maurice
Martenot. The original
design was similar in
sound to the theremin.
Oscillating radio tubes
produce electric pulses at
two supersonic sound-
wave frequencies.
The vibraphone or vibes is
a metallophone that looks
like the orchestral
xylophone and makes use
of electric fans at the
upper ends of the vibrator
tubes in order to produce a
vibrato sound. It has been
predominantly used for
jazz music.
Digital synthesizers:
 Music synthesizers, also
called electronic sound
synthesizers, are any
machines that electronically
generate and modify
sounds, frequently with the
use of a digital computer.
Synthesizers are used for
the composition of electronic
music and in live
performance.
 Electric instruments:
Nowadays, there is an electric
option of almost any musical
instrument. An electric violin, for
instance, is a violin equipped with
an electronic output of its sound and
its amplification. Amplifying an
electric violin is exactly the same as
amplifying a guitar: they both
produce an audio output which is
transferred through an audio cable
into an amplifier.
 The electric guitar:
maybe the most popular
stringed instrument, played
with the fingers by plucking,
slapping, strumming or picking
with a plectrum, often known
as a pick.
 The electric bass or
bass guitar is similar in
appearance and
construction to an electric
guitar and also electrically
amplified. It has four strings
and it's played by plucking
with the fingers or thumb. It
has the same pitch and
tuning as the double bass.
• Last century, most electric
or amplified musical
instruments are electric
versions of chordophones,
such as pianos, guitars or
violins. Actually, there are
also members of the
aerophone family, like
electric saxophones or
flutes.