How the udu makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the udu 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 kim-kim or Udu is a plosive aerophone (in this case implosive) and an idiophone of the Igbo of Nigeria. In the Igbo language, ùdù means 'vessel' or 'pot'. This is a hand percussion instrument and it is one of the most important instruments in Igbo music.
Other struck idiophones
Frequently asked questions
What does an udu 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 udu?
It is classified as struck idiophones (Hornbostel–Sachs 111.24+413.2).
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q1500255 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Udu – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by Xylosmygame – CC BY-SA 3.0