由各种弦乐器合奏的弦索乐，以优美、抒情、质朴、文雅见长，适宜于室内演奏。如《十六板》（弦索十三套）、《高山》、《流水》（河南板头曲）等。用吹管乐器与弦乐器合奏的丝竹乐，演奏风格细致，多表现轻快活泼的情绪，如《三六》、《行街》(江南丝竹)，《雨打芭蕉》、《走马》(广东音乐)、《八骏马》、《梅花操》（福建南音）等。

（1）中国古琴（ancient Chinese qin instruments)

(古）琴 qin [(five-stringed,or seven-stringed)plucked instrument Chinese zither；Chinese harp]

胡琴 huqin(two-stringed bowed instrument；Chinese violin) ( general term for certain two-stringed bowed instruments; Chinese violin)

月琴 yueqin ( 4-stringed full-moon-shaped Chinese mandolin)

扬琴 yangqin(cf. Dulcimer)

柳琴 liuqin (a plucked stringed instrument)

琵琶 pipa (plucked string instrument with a fretted finger-board；four-stringed Chinese lute；balloon guitar)

瑟 se (16-stringed,or 25-stringed) plucked instrument similar to the zither;25-stringed horizontal harp)

筝 zheng ( 21 or 25-stringed Chinese zither ) ( cf. cittern西滕特琴）

古筝zither

瑶琴 yaoqin；a lute with jasper mountings zhuiqin 

排琴chime 

二弦 erxian

三弦 sanxian (three-stringed Chinese guitar)