A membranophone, it's sort of in the name. A membranophone is any musical instrument that produces sound with a vibrating stretched membrane. An idiophone is somewhat similar and produces sound by vibrating when hit but does not use strings or membranes (the instrument as a whole vibrates).
When we talk about the Northern Renaissance, what we actually mean is "Renaissance happenings that occurred within Europe, but outside of Italy." Because the most innovative art was created in France, the Netherlands, and Germany during this time, and because all of these places are north of Italy, the "Northern" tag has stuck.
Geography aside, there were some significant differences between the Italian Renaissance and the Northern Renaissance.
