What term is used for musical instruments that use strings to produce sound?

The term that refers to musical instruments using strings to produce sound is "Chordophones." This classification encompasses a wide variety of stringed instruments, including violins, guitars, and harps, which generate sound through the vibration of strings. The strings can be plucked, struck, or bowed, and their vibrations resonate within the body of the instrument, creating musical tone.

The concept of chordophones is rooted in the characteristics of these instruments, which fundamentally rely on the tension, length, and mass of the strings themselves. This distinguishes them from other categories of instruments, such as idiophones, which produce sound through the material itself without the use of strings, or aerophones, which generate sound primarily through vibrating air, like flutes and trumpets. Membranophones, on the other hand, produce sound through the vibration of a membrane, as seen in drums. Understanding these distinctions helps in categorizing and appreciating different musical instruments within the broader framework of musicology.