Instruments That Vibrate Themselves - Idiophones

Idiophones are instruments that produce sound by the vibration created by their body. The human's body is often an important part in producing the sound, e.g. in the case of Jew's harp that uses the jaw and mouth as a resonator. In essence, this group includes all percussion instruments apart from drums, as well as some other instruments. Drums belong to membranophones in this classification because of the parchment that creates the sound, however, as they are quite rare in Estonia, they are included in idiophones (percussion) and not treated as a separate class.

Idiophones can be further distinguished according to the method used in causing the vibration. The most common ways in Estonia are stricking, shaking and scraping. That is why many Estonian rhythm and noise instruments can be classified as idiphones, e.g. different bells, rattles. etc. Some of them have a certain function such as, for instance, wind instruments, yet others are used for joke and entertainment.

Some idiphones enable the musician to play a melody, e.g. Jew's harp and (musical) saw.