Afolk instrument is a traditionalmusical instrument that has remained largely restricted totraditional folk music, and is not usually used in theclassical music or other elite and formal musical genres of the culture concerned, though related instruments may be.
It can be made fromwood,metal or other material; all themajor families of instruments are represented. The instruments can be percussion instruments, or different types offlutes ortrumpets, or string instruments that are plucked, hammered or use a form ofbow.[1]
Some instruments are referred to as folk instruments because they commonly appear in folk music, even though they are also used in other types of music; for example, the classicalviolin and the folkfiddle are usually identical.
For instruments used in particular European folk styles, see theList of European folk music traditions
