Musical instruments generally are long-lived as a certain kind of instrument and in some cases, individual instruments have very long lives, being cherished and used for generations. I suppose drums are the oldest kind of musical instrument. Yet some instruments really aren't as old as all that, being of more recent design.
It is also interesting to me, speaking only of Western music (not country & western), how certain genres of music use certain instruments and almost never others. For instance, I've been especially interested in Central European folk music for several years. Apparently pianos and drums are rarely used in that sort of music. But accordions and harmonikas are not commonly used in American folk music, perhaps because the origins pre-date the development of those instruments. Yet the old-style zither is, but in the form of an autoharp. Guitars seem to be universal, though, as well as the double-bass and the electric bass guitar that replaces it sometimes.
It is also interesting to me, speaking only of Western music (not country & western), how certain genres of music use certain instruments and almost never others. For instance, I've been especially interested in Central European folk music for several years. Apparently pianos and drums are rarely used in that sort of music. But accordions and harmonikas are not commonly used in American folk music, perhaps because the origins pre-date the development of those instruments. Yet the old-style zither is, but in the form of an autoharp. Guitars seem to be universal, though, as well as the double-bass and the electric bass guitar that replaces it sometimes.