Lamellaphones

Lamellaphones are the second tier of the Hornbostel Sachs musical instrument classification system. In Latin the word “lamella” means “tongue”. There are two sub-types the first is called “Idioglotic” this subgroup includes “jew harps” or “jawharps” and the second type are lamellaphones having a resonator or “sound box, or body attached to the instrument its self. This includes instruments such as the Kalimba, Mbira etc. Lamellaphones are tongues plucked by the fingers. The tongues maybe made of grass, bamboo or metal attached to a sound board and additional resonator.