A wide variety of instruments were used around the Revolutionary War time period. Most instruments that exist today were played during this time.
The most popular instrument during the Revolutionary War was the violin. All classes played this instrument: from Thomas Jefferson to indentured servants to slaves. The price could be extremely high or very cheap, mainly because most of the violins were imported. For the most part, the violin was reserved for men to play.
The next most popular instrument was the flute. There were many different kinds of flutes, such as the fife, the recorder (also called the common or English flute), and the transverse flute (also called the German flute). The flute was another instrument mainly played by males.
Women, on the other hand, had to keep up a reputation, so they had few instrumental options to play. The English guitar, which no longer exists, had a flat back and a teardrop shape. It had ten strings, and was similar to the Renaissance cittern. The English guitar was tuned to an open C chord.
Wealthy women had the opportunity to play the harpsichord. For many women, this was their instrument of choice, if they could afford to play it. They would practice frequently, and play only for family and friends.
The other acceptable instruments during the Revolutionary War period were the harp and the Baroque guitar. The Baroque guitar is similar to today’s guitars, only smaller, and with only ten strings.
Drums, trumpets, trombones, French horns, cellos, violas de gamba, clarinets, oboes, bassoons, glass harmonicas, hammered dulcimers, and organs were also popular instruments in the colonies for men during the Revolutionary War.
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