Bowed string instrument

Bowed string instruments are a subcategory of string instruments that are played by a bow rubbing the strings. The bow rubbing the string causes vibration which the instrument emits as sound.
Despite the numerous specialist studies devoted to the origin of bowing, the origin of bowing remains unknown.Friedrich Behn, Musikleben im Altertum und frühen page 159
Some say that the bow was introduced to Europe from the Middle East while others say the bow was not introduced from the Middle East, but the other way round, that that the bow may have had its origin from a more frequent intercourse with North Europe and Western Europe
== List of bowed string instruments ==
===Violin family===
* Cello (violoncello)
* Pochette
* Viola (altviol, bratsche) 
* Violin (violino) 
* Double bass (contrabasso)
;Variants on the standard members of the violin family include:
* Baroque violin
* Cello da spalla
* Five string violin
* Hardanger fiddle
* Kit violin
* Kontra
* Låtfiol
* Lira da braccio
* Octobass
* Sardino
* Stroh violin
* Tenor violin
===Viol family (Viola da Gamba family)===
* Alto viol 
* Bass viol 
* Tenor viol 
* Treble viol 
;Variants on the standard four members of the viol family include:
* Baryton
* Division viol
* Lirone
* Lyra viol
* Pardessus de viol
* Vihuela de arco
* Violone 
* Viola d'amore
===Lyra and rebec type===
* Byzantine lyra
* Calabrian lira
* Cretan lyra
* Gadulka
* Ghaychak
* Kamancheh
* Kemençe 
* Kemenche
* Kemenche (classical)
* Lijerica
* Pochette
* Rabeca
* Rebab 
 
* Rebec
* Shah Kaman
===Chinese bowed instruments===
* Banhu
* Daguangxian
* Dahu
* Dihu
* Diyingehu
* Erhu 
* Erxian
* Gaohu
* Gehu
* Huqin
* Jiaohu
* Jinghu
* Jing erhu
* Laruan
* Leiqin
* Maguhu
* Matouqin
* Sanhu
* Sihu
* Tiqin
* Tihu
* Tuhu
* Wenzhenqin
* Xiqin
* Yazheng
* Yehu
* Zhengni
* Zhonghu
* Zhuiqin
* Zhuihu
===Rosined wheel instruments===
The following instruments are sounded by means of a turning wheel that acts as the bow:
* Bowed clavier
* Donskoy ryley
* Dulcigurdy a.k.a. 
* Drejelire
* Harmonichord
* Hurdy-gurdy
* Kaisatsuko
* Lira
* Ninera
* Organistrum
* Tekerő
* Viola organista
* Violano Virtuoso
* Wheelharp
===Other bowed instruments===
* Agiarut
* Ajaeng
* Arpeggione
* Bowed dulcimer
* Bowed guitar
* Bowed psaltery
* Byzaanchy
* Chuurqin
* Crwth
* Đàn nhị
* Đàn hồ
* Đàn gáo
* Daxophone
* Esraj
* Fiðla
* Gadulka
* Ghaychak
* Giga
* Gudok
* Gue
* Gusle
* Haegeum
* Huqin
* Igil
* Imzad
* Jouhikko
* Kingri
* Kokyū
* Kobyz
* Masenqo
* Morin khuur 
* Musical saw
* Neola
* Nyckelharpa 
* Ravanahatha
* Salo
* Sarangi
* Sarangi (Nepali)
* Sarinda
* Saw duang
* Saw sam sai
* Saw u
* Shichepshin
* Sohaegeum
* Sorahi
* Sorud
* Talharpa
* Tautirut
* Tro sau thom
* Tro Khmer
* Tro sau toch
* Tro u
* Umbang
* Vielle
* Violoncello da spalla
* Yaylı tambur
==See also==
*Bow stroke
==References==