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Top Ten Most Bizarre Musical Instruments You Never Knew Existed!
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items From Accordian to Zither, I searched for the 10 most extreme and unusual musical instruments. Now I've laid them all out for you to explore! Make sure to let me know which one is your favorite and if you play an instrument as well!
Sections
10
Theremin
Hurdy-Gurdy
Glass Armonica
Sea Organ
Waterphone
Otamatone
Theremin
This ethereal instrument is played without ever touching it! Wave your hands in the air and control the pitch and volume with spooky, sci-fi sounds.
The Theremin is an instrument that has to be seen to believe it exists! This amazing device is played entirely without touching. Even more amazing is that the Theremin was invented in 1920!
The theremin - A short introduction to a unique instrument
You could buy a professional theremin... or you could make your own!
DIY Theremin Kit
Want a fun history read about the Theremin? Here's a bathroom reader from the Smithsonian!
The Soviet Spy Who Invented the First Major Electronic Instrument
Hurdy-Gurdy
Imagine a violin mated with a crank and a wheel. This medieval marvel is a self-contained symphony, with strings bowed by a wheel and keys for melody.
The Hurdy-Gurdy has a long and storied history best told by historians and musicians. It went from being a church instrument to a pleasentry of the peasantry.
Introducing the Hurdy Gurdy
In pop culture, we see the hurdy-gurdy being played when the boy meets the hobo on the train. He plays 'Good King Wenceslas' and sings along as the boy approaches...
The Polar Express
To play a hurdy-gurdy, you gotta know the difference between your drone and your dog. Caroline Phillips gave a great talk all about the stringed instrument.
Hurdy-gurdy for beginners
Glass Armonica
Benjamin Franklin's creepy creation uses crystal glasses filled with water to create an otherworldly, hauntingly beautiful sound. (Warning: not for clumsy musicians!)
What do you get when you take an arrangement of custom blown wine goblets, attach them to a spinning shaft, and wet your fingers? The Glass Armonica!
Sounds of a Glass Armonica
You might not be able to get your hands on a glass armonica anytime soon, but with a little water, you can make any stemware sing! Take a look and give it a try!
How to Make a Wine Glass Sing Science Experiment
Taking up glass blowing? Making a glass armonica can be a rewarding experience!
Master the Art of Crafting a Glass Harmonica with These Easy How-To Steps
Sea Organ
Forget concert halls, take your music to the ocean! This Croatian marvel uses the waves to play haunting melodies through underwater pipes.
Less an instrument to play and more an experience to be had - the Zadar Sea Organ is a public exhibit built to invite people to enjoy the Sea front.
Zadar Sea Organ
If you aren't headed to Croatia any time soon, perhaps you'd like to check out the Exploratorium in San Francisco, CA where they've built their own version called the Wave Organ. Similar to the Sea Organ, pipes fill the air with melodies played by t...
Experience the Exploratorium at Pier 15 | Exploratorium
Whether you plan to visit Croatia or anywhere else, Lonely planet has the travel guide for you
Sea Organ | Zadar, Croatia | Attractions - Lonely Planet
Waterphone
This instrument looks like a giant tuning fork with long, thin rods. But when played with a bow, it creates ethereal, rippling sounds that evoke water droplets.
If there was ever a sound I associated with television and movies, it would probably be the waterphone. Bowing and playing the waterphone leads to some of the haunting sounds in horror movies and the tense musical stabs in reality tv!
Waterphone Comparison
Want to try your hand at playing a waterphone? You can find them and other musical instruments readily available online!
Waterphone Percussion Handmade Unusual Instrument
Alien, along with other horror films all feature the waterphone in their score. A perfect suspense builder
Alien - Apple TV
Otamatone
This adorable Japanese gadget is shaped like a tadpole and controlled by tapping its neck and squeezing its mouth. Perfect for creating quirky, electronic melodies.
The Otamatone, which resembles a tadpole, is named after the Japanese word for tadpole: otamajakushi. People all over the world love the quirky synthesizer because of how easy it is to pickup and play!
Otamatone 101: Beginner Guide
Already have an Otamatone and want to take your performance to the next level? Then take an on-demand course to learn this or any other skill at your own pace!
Learn to How to Play the Otamatone!
Of all the instruments on this list, the Otamatone is probably the easiest and most accessible to pickup and start playing. Why not give it a try??
Otamatone | Barnes & Noble
Hang
This steel drum looks like a UFO and sounds like one too! Its unique, ethereal tones are perfect for creating otherworldly music.
The Hang, or Handpan as I've also known it, reverberate some of the most magical tones ever! The Hang is approachable as a percussion instrument and requires some amazing skill to play well!
Hang Drums & Handpans : What Are They??
Need to take an hour? I found your musical accompaniment. Enjoy this hour meditation with handpan compliment
Meditation Compilation #1 | 1 hour Handpan music | Malte Marten
Hang vs Hand pan? How is it related to a steel drum? Why are they so bumpy? Take a look at this page to answer some Hang questions!
The Ultimate Guide to Handpans: 13 Questions Demystified
Xylophone
Okay, this one might seem familiar... but did you know there are xylophones made from everything from vegetables to bones?
As said before, a Xylophone may be made out of many materials (but not metal, that's a glockenspiel!) And this is a great introduction to what you can do with one!
Playing the Xylophone | feat. Bassfahrer | Thomann
Of course I couldn't mention a bone xylophone without actually showing one! Enjoy :)
'Teardrop' by Massive Attack played on sheep bone xylophone
I can't tell you how many times I've played with my son's metal xylophone with 8 notes and wished that I could play more than just a nursery rhyme. Thankfully larger xylophone are not expensive and readily available! Now I can go to town and really...
MINIARTIS Glockenspiel Xylophone 27 Note
Hydraulophone
Imagine playing music with water! This new instrument uses pressurized water jets to create an otherworldly, cascading sound.
I challenged myself to find a truly unique instrument and I think the Hydraulophone really encompasses the bizarre mystique in the art of finding new music 🎶 🎵 😳
The Hydraulophone - The underwater instruments of AquaSonic
Make: magazine is a great place to learn all about new and wonderful things. I still hold on to old issues which I read over and over again!
Hydraulophone: Water pipe organ
Crwth
This Welsh beast is a bowed lyre with a haunting sound. It's a relic from the medieval era that still packs a sonic punch.
If you've ever heard of a Crwth, I want to know! This is my first exposure to what appears to me to be an ancient violin. Come learn with me!
Unboxing Instruments — Crwth
Come along with me and learn all about the history of music, from the beginnings to modern rock and roll!
Best Music History Courses Online [2024] | Coursera