Strange Unique and Fascinating Musical Instruments

Strange Unique and Fascinating Musical Instruments –  In the world of music, there are a number of instruments that may seem strange, but at the same time unique and very fascinating. These musical instruments are the result of human creativity with various shapes, sounds, and ways of playing. Let’s explore some of them:

Strange Unique and Fascinating Musical Instruments

1. Kalimba
theaddamsfamilymusicalstore – Kalimba, also known as the thumb piano, is part of the percussion instrument family. This instrument is made of reeds that are plucked with the thumb, where the resulting vibrations are amplified through a resonator box or soundboard, producing beautiful melodies.

2. Glass Harmonica
A glass harmonica, derived from the Greek term meaning harmony, is a musical instrument consisting of a series of glass bowls or cups. Through friction on the surface of the wetted glass, musicians can produce harmonious notes. The introduction of this instrument was popularized by Irish musician Richard Puckeridge in the 1740s.

3. Cucumber Phones
Part of the vegetable orchestra in Vienna, this instrument consists of a mouthpiece made of carrots, a body made of cucumbers, and red peppers as a base to project sound. Interestingly, after performing, this instrument is not thrown away, but processed into soup.

4. Travel Didgeridoo
The didgeridoo is a wind instrument that ranges from 1 to 4 feet long. The sound produced gets lower as the instrument gets longer. This didgeridoo is designed to be disassembled and stored in a backpack for easy travel.

5. Balloon Music
Balloon music is made from balloons that are filled with air and opened. The size of the balloon affects the variation of the notes produced, creating unique melodies.

Read Also :Types of Unique and Legendary Sasak Tribe Musical Instruments

6. Anarchestra
This musical instrument made of steel combines small parts such as pipe pieces and tuning machines. With creativity, you can create an interesting and entertaining ensemble, as long as you know how to play it.

7. Fence Music
Using metal or fence wire and a violin bow, you can create interesting resonant sounds. As the bow moves back and forth, you can hear the melody produced by the wire.

8. Musical Saw
By utilizing a hand saw, you can create unique music. Controlling the position of the saw between your knees and using a violin bow, you can get beautiful tones from the flat part, creating an interesting melody shape.

9. Cheese Drum Set
Each wheel of cheese functions as a series of drums. With different sizes and densities, each type of cheese produces a different sound depending on how and where you hit it. This cheese drum provides a unique experience in creating rhythm.

10. Aeolian Wind Harp
This musical instrument uses the wind to produce melodious sounds. When the wind blows through the strings, it creates beautiful and soothing harmonies.

Each of these musical instruments is not just a tool, but also a work of art waiting to be explored and enjoyed.
This musical instrument is made of a wooden box with strings stretched between two boards. To enjoy the sound produced, this instrument needs to be placed near an open window so that the wind can blow it. The strings used can be made of various materials with varying thicknesses but still produce the same tone or at different pitch levels. The strength of the wind will affect the type of sound we can hear.

11. Pegasus Piano
There are only fourteen units of this piano in the world. With a very ergonomic curved keyboard design, this piano is equipped with 88 unique keys that can produce sounds in a range of 7 ¼ octaves. The piano lid is regulated by a hydraulic system, allowing the player to control the intensity of the sound produced.

12. Kazoo
The kazoo is a widely known wind instrument. With a vibrating mechanism, this tool is able to change the sound when the player speaks or sings into it. Kazoos are made of steel or plastic, making them lightweight and easy to use.

13. Riday T-91 Midi Controller
This musical instrument can be played like a keyboard. With the benefit of all fingers for 12 scales – 12 major scales, 12 minor scales, and 12 blues scales – you can produce a variety of sounds. The movement of the hand to the right or left on this instrument will help produce the desired tone.

14. Jaw Harp
Known as one of the oldest musical instruments in the world, the Jaw Harp is made of flexible metal or bamboo. The instrument is placed in the player’s mouth, vibrating when pressed against the teeth, which in turn creates resonance of sound through the mouth. It is important to give enough space for the tongue to vibrate freely, and the cheeks or lips should not come into direct contact with the instrument. Changing the shape of the mouth will affect the tone and volume of the sound, depending on the breath flow.

15. Weather Harp
Made of marine plywood, goatskin, and an epoxy mix, this instrument is wind-operated. The Weather Harp has 21 strings emanating from the center and is capable of producing 42 notes. There are two wind-activated devices to produce sound: a metal cup that plucks the strings for treble chords and a balance arm that plucks the strings for bass notes.

16. Bullet Flute
Invented by James Johnson after 11 years of research, the Bullet Flute was inspired by a talented Cantonese musician who played the flute. James really wanted to create this musical instrument and finally succeeded in realizing his dream.

17. 34-Foot Giant Trumpet
Made in the early 20th century in the city of Besson, London, this trumpet is 34 feet long, weighs 56 kg, and is almost 8 feet tall. The lowest note that can be produced from this instrument is Bb, three octaves below the tone, or the second lowest note on a modern piano (29. 14 Hz).

Read Also : Inovasi Teknologi yang Mengubah Cara Hidup Kita 

#18. Atlantic City Hall Organ

This circular organ is located in the Boardwalk Hall Auditorium in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It was built by the Midmer-Losh Organ Company. The Atlantic City Auditorium is the largest convention hall in the world, seating approximately 41,000 people in its main area. The giant organ has 33,112 pipes, including the 64-foot-long Profunda Diaphone, with manual pedals that operate under up to 100 inches of wind pressure.

#19. Sea Organ

The Sea Organ is an architectural masterpiece located in Zadar, Croatia. It is an experimental musical instrument that produces melodies through ocean waves and tubes arranged under a series of large marble steps. The ocean waves create random, yet harmonious sounds. The work was designed by architect Nikola Bašić as part of a project to redesign the city’s new waterfront (Nova Riva).

# 20. Road Music

Invented a few years ago in Japan by a group of industrial researchers in Hokkaido, Road Music consists of carved patterns carved into the surface of the road. When passed over, the patterns produce beautiful musical notes. The idea came from Mr. Shinoda, who was inspired by the damaged roads around his house. With careful preparation and support from several parties, this amazing work was born. The Road Music consists of 6 mm holes separated by 12 mm, capable of creating captivating harmonies.

# 21. Balalaika

The balalaika (Russian: балалайка, pronounced in Russian: [bɐlɐlajkɐ]) is a traditional Russian stringed instrument with a triangular body and three strings. The balalaika family of instruments includes several types, ranging from the highest to the lowest pitch: prima, secunda, alto, bass, and contrabass balalaikas. All balalaikas have a triangular body, a spruce top, and a back made of 3-9 sections of wood. The prima balalaika is played with the fingers, while the secunda and alto can be played with either the fingers or a plectrum, depending on the genre. Meanwhile, the bass and contrabass balalaikas, which are equipped with an extension leg to rest on the floor, are played with a leather plectrum.

#22. Bazantar

Invented by Mark Deutsch, the Bazantar is an acoustic bass instrument with five strings, plus 29 sympathetic strings and four drone strings. The instrument offers melodic variation over five octaves, with its sympathetic range reaching four octaves. The result is a fascinating interplay between the melodic, sympathetic, and drone strings, creating rich and unexpected resonances.

#23. Bikelophone

Originally built in June 1995 as a backing instrument for Lyle and the Sparkleface Band, the Bikelophone has evolved into a unique sonic exploration tool. With magnetic pickups that amplify the sound, every element connected to the bike produces a powerful tone. Current configurations include bass strings, scrap wood and metal, metal bowls, telephone bells, mechanical foot pedals, and touch-sensitive tone generators. The bikelophone is capable of producing sounds ranging from serene beauty to terrifying chaos.

#24. Celestial Harp
The Celestial Harp is an innovative musical instrument designed and crafted by Robin Armstrong. Its original concept revolves around playing an individual’s horoscope, transforming astrological charts into musical expressions that resonate with healing vibrations from the cosmos. This idea evolved into a unique auditory representation of the Zodiac, I Ching, the Pyramid, our solar system, and the stars that adorn the night sky. Given that the sound and emotional response of the instrument vary based on the individual for whom it is played, we present three distinct short audio pieces from the Celestial Harp.

Chrysalis, created by Cris Forster, is another remarkable instrument that first debuted as a full-sized concert instrument. Its design was inspired by the circular, intricately carved Aztec calendar. Cris pondered, “What if there were a musical instrument shaped like a wheel, equipped with strings arranged across it? How would it sound if it could spin? ” This led to the birth of the basic concept for Chrysalis. Built between 1975 and 1976, the Chrysalis features two sides—two round soundboards—with 82 strings on each side. The wheel, positioned atop a wave-like stand, can freely rotate in either direction, adding to its unique sound experience.