onestringed

Onestringed is a term used to describe instruments or devices that use a single string to produce sound. In music, it typically refers to stringed instruments whose vibrating element is one string, with pitch altered by changing the length, tension, or vibrating portion of that string. The term can also apply to educational or experimental devices that demonstrate string vibration on a single string, such as the monochord.

Common examples of onestringed instruments include the monochord in ancient and medieval musical theory, and regional instruments such as the ektara from South Asia and the dan bau from Vietnam. These instruments share a simple resonator and a single playing string, with pitch commonly adjusted by finger placement, tension, or a movable bridge and nut.

Construction and playing technique for onestringed instruments vary, but fundamentals are similar: a single string is stretched over a neck or frame and connected to a resonator body. The string can be plucked, strummed, or bowed, and its pitch is influenced by the vibrating length and the tension applied. Some variants feature a drone mechanism or a moveable bridge to facilitate pitch changes or vibrato, while others rely on discreet finger placement along the string to alter tuning.

In classification, onestringed instruments are often treated as a subset of chordophones focused on the single-string configuration, rather than as a distinct family. They appear in folk, traditional, and experimental contexts, valued for their simplicity, portability, and fundamental acoustical demonstrations.