In Hungarian folk music there has been various instruments used for centuries. There is no exact data on the instrument used by village musicians before the 18th century. Musicians and people in general in villages used instruments that were easy to handle. Many of the folk instruments used in the 19-20th century are still in use nowadays.

Research concerning Hungarian folk instruments is related to Bartók Béla and Kodály Zoltán. The research included history of instruments, ethnography and folk music.

The simplest whistle-like instrument is the flute. In Hungary two types of flutes were in use: those with six and those with five holes, the long flute. However, the most popular instrument was the bagpipes. Its ancestor was probably the reed. Bagpipes were already in use in the 16th century.

The turning lute was widespread in the south of the Great Planes, in Kiskunfálegyháza, Szentes, Csongrád and Szeged. In times past the lute makers of Szentes were the most famous, one of them was Szenyéri János, whose father was also a lute maker. Lutes were often played along with clarinets.

Zithers made of pumpkins and tambourines were also popular in the south of the Great Planes. Two instruments differed in their backs: one of them was made of pumpkin, the other of wood. Pumpkin zithers can only be seen in museums nowadays.

Of the stringed instruments, the zither is the most wide spread. These are very popular even nowdays. We know three basic types: the oldest one was prism shaped, its newer version was staggered and the third was the zither influenced by western culture.

The reed lute was probably the forerunner of lutes. It must have been very popular as it is often present in children' stories. Reed lutes were used only by shepherds at the beginning of the 20th century.

Swineherd horns were used by shepherds. These were made of horns of cattle. Varied tunes were played on them. We cannot forget about flutes and rattles made for children. Potters made flutes for boys and tinkles for girs.

Csete Gyula