Instruments that produce sound by means of vibrating air are known as what?

Instruments that produce sound primarily through the vibration of air are classified as aerophones. This category includes instruments such as flutes, trumpets, and saxophones, which generate sound when air is forced through them, causing the air column within the instrument to vibrate. The key characteristic of these instruments is that the sound is created by the movement of air, which fits the definition of aerophones perfectly.

Chordophones, on the other hand, produce sound by vibrating strings. This category encompasses instruments like violins and guitars. Idophones are different; they generate sound from the material of the instrument itself vibrating, such as bells or cymbals. Harmonics does not classify a type of instrument but rather refers to the overtones produced by vibrating bodies. Recognizing these distinctions helps clarify why aerophones are the correct answer for instruments that produce sound through vibrating air.