弹拨乐器【英】

Plucked String Instruments

定义

指用手指或拨子拨弦，及用琴竹击弦而发音的乐器总称。中国传统弹拨乐器历史悠久，种类形制繁多，大致可以分为三类，一类以长方形琴箱为琴身，平放着弹奏，以古琴为代表；一类包括琴头、琴杆、琴箱儿部分，左手按弦，右手弹拨，放在腿上演奏，以琵琶为代表；还有一类就是扬琴，平放而用琴竹击弦取音。

A general term for instruments that produce sound by plucking the strings with fingers, plectrums, or striking the strings with bamboo hammers. Traditional plucked instruments, with a great variety of shapes and types, have a long history in China. They can be roughly put into three categories. One category is represented by the guqin (zither), with a rectangular body laid flat while being played; another category is represented by the pipa (lute) with a head, a neck (fingerboard), and a body, placed across the lap while being played, with the left hand pressing the strings on the fretboard and the right hand plucking them; and a third category is represented by the yangqin (hammered dulcimer), laid flat while being played with bamboo hammers striking the strings.