Electrophone

What it means

An electrophone is a musical instrument whose sound is generated through electric or electronic processes, such as oscillating circuits, oscillators, or digital sound synthesis, rather than through a vibrating string, membrane, or air column. Electrophones thus form their own, more recent category alongside the classical, purely acoustic ways of producing sound.

Musical use

In the instrument classification developed by Erich Moritz von Hornbostel and Curt Sachs in the early 20th century, electrophones form the newest, fifth main category alongside idiophones, membranophones, chordophones, and aerophones. They include the synthesizer, the electric organ, and instruments such as the theremin, which produces sound entirely without touch, solely through the hands approaching two antennas.

True electrophones should be distinguished from merely electrically amplified acoustic instruments such as the electric guitar: these generate their original sound acoustically through a vibrating string but amplify it electrically, which is why some classifications list them separately as electroacoustic instruments. Electrophones in the narrower sense, by contrast, generate sound electrically or electronically from the outset, without any acoustically vibrating element.

Performance practice

When working with an electrophone, be aware that sound parameters such as pitch, timbre, and volume are usually controlled through electronic knobs or control voltages rather than through a physical playing action like blowing or bowing. Practise handling your instrument's specific controls deliberately, such as filter or envelope settings, since on electrophones these take over part of the expressive role that comes from physical technique on acoustic instruments.