How the bo makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the bo belongs to the struck idiophones: the body is struck directly – bells, gongs, xylophones and cymbals.
More broadly it is one of the idiophones, where the solid body of the instrument itself vibrates, without strings or a stretched membrane.
Players shape its sound through technique and materials; the resonating body filters the raw vibration, boosting some harmonics and damping others.
From Wikipedia
The bo (simplified Chinese: 钹; traditional Chinese: 鈸; pinyin: bó; Wade–Giles: po) is a percussion instrument originating in China, a type of cymbal. It consists of two plates that are clashed together. It is a concussion idiophone.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has one from nineteenth century China. Both parts have a diameter of 56.5 centimeters.
Other struck idiophones
Frequently asked questions
What does a bo sound like?
As one of the struck idiophones, its sound comes from the way the body is struck directly.
What type of instrument is the bo?
It is classified as struck idiophones (Hornbostel–Sachs 111.142).