Music does wonders and heals the heart and soul naturally. It has been called the life, soul, and heartbeat of an individual. And besides one’s vocals and singing, there are a string of musical instruments in the world that add to the richness of music. Most cultures in the world have a particular instrument that is used often by its people to make music. Some of these are recognized by its governments as national musical instruments whereas others are assumed to be so. So let is take stock of the various regional musical instruments around the globe. 

Musical instruments recognized as national instruments

Governments rarely officially name some musical instrument as its national musical instrument. But there are some nations that have done so. Paraguay has recognized its harp as its national musical instrument and similarly the Japanese have named their Koto as their national one. Trinidad has the Trinidadian steelpan as their official national musical instrument. 

In some countries such as Puerto Rica, their musical instrument of cuatro is commonly used but in some places such as Wales it is just a symbol. Welsh people have triple harp that is supposedly belonging to that region. On the other hand, in Finland, the Finnish Kantele was invented by intellectuals and nationalists in order to use it for nationalistic idea spread. 

Musical Instruments that could be considered as national instruments

Country                             Musical Instrument

 Afghanistan              Rubab

 Albania                             Ciftelia Gajde Lahuta    

 Arab world                      Oud

 Argentina                      Bandoneon, guitar

Armenia                      Duduk

Asutralia                      Didgeridoo

Austria                              Bock

 Azerbaijan balaban 

 Buganda, Bantu kingdom within Uganda endongo 

 Balochistan Balochs Suroz 

 Bangladesh dotara 

 Bashkirs (Turkic) of Bashkortostan and Badzhgard Kurai 

 Basotho Lesiba 

 Bavaria Zither 

 Bhutan dranyen 

 Bolivia Charango 

 Brazil Guitar, berimbau, pandeiro 

 Bulgaria Gaida 

 China Guqin, guzheng, pipa, yangqin 

 Colombia Cuatro, triple colombiano 

 Costa Rica Marimba 

 Corsica ` cetera 

 Crete lyra 

 Croatia Tumburica and lijerica 

 Cuba tres 

 Czech Republic bock 

 Dagara ethic region of Ghana gyil 

 Ecuador Rondador 

 Egypt, ancient Harp, sistrum 

 England Concertina 

 Etruria, Italy (present day Tuscany, Lazo, and Umbria Kithara 

 Finland Kantele, violin 

 Fula of Fulani people of West Africa tambin 

 Galicia, NW Spain gaita 

 Germany Waldzither, Gemrna lute guitar 

 Greece, ancient Aulos, lyre 

 Greece, modern bouzouki 

 Guatemala Marimba 

 Hawaii ukulele 

 Hungary cimbalom 

 India Veena 

 Indonesia Angklung 

 Iran tar 

 Ireland Irish harp, great Irish warpipes, Uilleann pipes. 

 Israel Kinnor 

 Italy Mandolin 

 Japan koto 

 Jewish community shofar 

 Kazakhstan dombra 

 Kenya nyatiti 

 Khoekhoe, indigenous people of SW Africa goura 

 Korea gayageum 

 Kyrgystan komuz 

 Lanna, Northern Thailand Pin pia 

 Laos Khene 

 Latvia Kokles 

 Lebanon darbuka 

 Lithuania Birbyne, kankles 

 Lobi, of Ghana gyil 

 Madagascar valiha 

 Mandinka, West Africa balo 

 Maroons, Jamaica abeng 

 Mexico marimba 

 Mongolia Morin khuur 

 Montenegro gusle 

 Myanmar (old Burma) Saung-guak 

 Nepal madal 

 Netherlands Fiddle 

 Nicaragua marimba 

 Norway Hardingfele, langeleik 

 Pakistan dafli 

 Paraguay harp 

 Peru Cajon, charango 

 Philippines bandurria 

 Polynesia Nose flute 

 Portugal Portuguese guitar 

 Puerto Rico cuatro 

 Rome, ancient tibiae 

 Russia Garmon, balalaika, gusli, spoons (wooden) 

 Ryukyu islands, Japan sanshin 

 Sakha Republic Khomus 

 Scotland Highland bagpipe 

 Serbia Accordion, frula, gajda, gusle 

 Slovekia Fujara 

 Sloveia accordion 

 South Africa Vuvuzela 

 Spain Guitar 

 Sweden Drejelire, nyckelharpa 

 Swedish Estonia Talharpa 

 Switzerland Alphorn 

 Trinidad and Tobago Steelpan 

 Turkey Saz 

 Turkmenistan dutar 

 Tuva Republic Igil, khomus, morin khuur 

 Ukraine bandura 

 USA Appalachian dulcimer, banjo 

 Uzbekistan Doira, karnay 

 Venezuela Cuatro, harp 

 Vietnam Dan bau 

 Wales Crwth, harp 

 Yugoslavia Gusle 

 Zimbabwe mbira