Hangszer

Hangszer is the Hungarian term for a musical instrument. It denotes any device designed to produce musical sound, which is produced when the instrument is played, struck, blown, plucked, or otherwise manipulated. The word derives from hang meaning sound and szer meaning tool or contrivance.

In Hungarian musicology, hangszer classifications typically include húros hangszerek (strings) such as gitár and hegedű; fúvós hangszerek (wind instruments) such as furulya and síp; ütőhangszerek (percussion) such as dob and cintányér; billentyűs hangszerek (keyboard instruments) such as zongora and orgona; and elektronikus hangszerek (electronic instruments) such as szintetizátor. Some instruments span categories, for example the piano is a billentyűs hangszer that produces sound by striking strings, effectively incorporating both keyboard and percussion aspects.

Sound is produced in different ways depending on the category. Strings vibrate when they are plucked, bows are drawn across them, or other excitation methods are used. Wind instruments produce sound through vibrating air columns or reeds. Percussion instruments generate sound by membranes or solid bodies being struck. Electronic instruments create sounds via electrical circuits or digital synthesis, sometimes controlled by keyboards or pads.

Hangszeres music covers a wide range of contexts, from traditional folk ensembles to modern orchestras and popular music. The term is used to refer to any individual instrument as well as to the broader category of musical devices used to produce sound. Understanding hangszer classification helps describe instrument families, playing techniques, and repertoire.