Electrophonic instruments generate their sounds by electronic means. The sound reproduction is often faithful to the instrument the equipment is trying to reproduce. However, although the electrophonic instruments allow for a more stable tone, they do not always allow for the greatest amount of creativity on the part of a musician.
The electronic keyboard, made popular by many rock and alternative bands in the 1980s is perhaps the best known instrument of this type. Trumpets, flutes, trombones and even the bagpipes have electrophonic versions. Keyboards can also imitate the sound of many other instruments. The range of sounds artificially reproduced by keyboards depends on the electronics on keyboard.
The best known electrophonic instrument will always be the electric guitar. The electric guitar, the companion to the acoustic guitar, has been available for decades. The instrument has provided its distinctive tones to big band, rock and roll, swing, jazz and the blues. In rock, pop, and country the electronic and bass guitars often provide the bulk of the sound. An amplifier produces a tone that does not quite resemble the sound of the acoustic guitar.
The most common electrophonic instruments can be found in music stores or pawn shops. Keyboards and electric guitars have found their way into department stores.