Musical instruments come in varied designs, shapes and sizes, from tiny palm-sized pieces to huge drums and some with ornate constructions.
We’ve gathered some of the most unusual so journey with us as we explore the wonderful ways people around the world make music.
Dulcimer
The dulcimer, a member of the zither family, traces its origins back to ancient European instruments.
Its name is derived from Latin, dulcis meaning “sweet”, and Greek, melos meaning “song”. Immigrants brought its forefathers to the US where it underwent a remarkable evolution.
Various cultures around the globe have their own version, with the dulcimer taking the prize when it comes to sheer variety.
The dulcimer, a member of the zither family, traces its origins back to ancient European instruments.
Its name is derived from Latin, dulcis meaning “sweet”, and Greek, melos meaning “song”. Immigrants brought its forefathers to the US where it underwent a remarkable evolution.
Various cultures around the globe have their own version, with the dulcimer taking the prize when it comes to sheer variety.
Tongue Drum
Also known as the hank drum or tank drum, the tongue drum is a fairly recent addition to the percussion family.
Looking more like an ornament than a musical instrument it has a lot to offer in terms of acoustics. Its top typically features between seven and ten tongues, which cut right through the surface. These vary in length for pitch variation and can be played with mallets or just with your fingers.
Also known as the hank drum or tank drum, the tongue drum is a fairly recent addition to the percussion family.
Looking more like an ornament than a musical instrument it has a lot to offer in terms of acoustics. Its top typically features between seven and ten tongues, which cut right through the surface. These vary in length for pitch variation and can be played with mallets or just with your fingers.
Didgeridoo
The didgeridoo is among the oldest wind instruments of all time, tracing its roots back through millenia of Australian Aboriginal culture.
The name ’didgeridoo’ is not of Aboriginal Australian origin and is considered to be an onomatopoetic word. The earliest occurrences of the word in print include a 1908 edition of the Hamilton Spectator referring to a "'did-gery-do' and a 1919 issue of Smith's Weekly, in which it was referred to as a "didjerry" and was said to produce the sound "didjerry, didjerry, didjerry”.
Aboriginal and indigenous musicians refer to it as the yidaki or the mandpul. To play the didgeridoo, you need to master circular breathing, in through the nose and out through the mouth, which can take years of training.
The didgeridoo is among the oldest wind instruments of all time, tracing its roots back through millenia of Australian Aboriginal culture.
The name ’didgeridoo’ is not of Aboriginal Australian origin and is considered to be an onomatopoetic word. The earliest occurrences of the word in print include a 1908 edition of the Hamilton Spectator referring to a "'did-gery-do' and a 1919 issue of Smith's Weekly, in which it was referred to as a "didjerry" and was said to produce the sound "didjerry, didjerry, didjerry”.
Aboriginal and indigenous musicians refer to it as the yidaki or the mandpul. To play the didgeridoo, you need to master circular breathing, in through the nose and out through the mouth, which can take years of training.
Duduk
Also known as the Armenian oboe, the duduk is one of the most ancient double reed instruments.
The duduk is one of the oldest and most symbolic musical instruments in Armenian culture, with a history spanning over two millennia.
Its sweet and melancholic melodies have accompanied Armenians throughout the centuries, expressing their joys, sorrows, and the profound depths of the Armenian soul.
Also known as the Armenian oboe, the duduk is one of the most ancient double reed instruments.
The duduk is one of the oldest and most symbolic musical instruments in Armenian culture, with a history spanning over two millennia.
Its sweet and melancholic melodies have accompanied Armenians throughout the centuries, expressing their joys, sorrows, and the profound depths of the Armenian soul.
Ocarina
When it comes to unusual small musical instruments, the ocarina is right up there. The contemporary wind instrument dates back to 1853, the creation of Italian teenager Guiseppe Donati.
Though this was not the first-ever instrument of its kind, it was the first time someone elevated it from toy status.
The name means little goose and essentially, it is a globular flute consisting of a mouthpiece and four to twelve holes. Originally ceramic, today they’re made from materials such as glass, plastic, wood, bone and metal.
When it comes to unusual small musical instruments, the ocarina is right up there. The contemporary wind instrument dates back to 1853, the creation of Italian teenager Guiseppe Donati.
Though this was not the first-ever instrument of its kind, it was the first time someone elevated it from toy status.
The name means little goose and essentially, it is a globular flute consisting of a mouthpiece and four to twelve holes. Originally ceramic, today they’re made from materials such as glass, plastic, wood, bone and metal.
Hurdy Gurdy
Belonging to the family of acoustic stringed instruments, the hurdy-gurdy remotely resembles a guitar.
The pear shaped body contains a wooden wheel which is turned by a spindle at the base of the instrument. This vibrates the strings, some of which are fixed-note drones, with the player using their left hand to stop the strings with wooden keys to change pitch.
It was a favourite instrument of French aristocrats in the 18thand 19th centuries. Though current models bear some semblance to the early forms, the contemporary ones are a lot smaller.
Belonging to the family of acoustic stringed instruments, the hurdy-gurdy remotely resembles a guitar.
The pear shaped body contains a wooden wheel which is turned by a spindle at the base of the instrument. This vibrates the strings, some of which are fixed-note drones, with the player using their left hand to stop the strings with wooden keys to change pitch.
It was a favourite instrument of French aristocrats in the 18thand 19th centuries. Though current models bear some semblance to the early forms, the contemporary ones are a lot smaller.
Djembe
The djembe is a goblet-shaped percussion instrument that has its origins in Africa. Its inventors were the Mandinke tribe of Mali, West Africa and it dates back to the 12th century.
The drum has the ability to produce a wide range of sounds which can vary according to the type of skin, density of wood, shape and proportions as well as drumming style, making it one of the most versatile drums of all time.
The djembe is a goblet-shaped percussion instrument that has its origins in Africa. Its inventors were the Mandinke tribe of Mali, West Africa and it dates back to the 12th century.
The drum has the ability to produce a wide range of sounds which can vary according to the type of skin, density of wood, shape and proportions as well as drumming style, making it one of the most versatile drums of all time.
Kalimba
The kalimba is a widely renowned lamellophone from Africa but is also found in the Caribbean and in South America. In the 1950s, it was a pillar of rhumba music in Zaire, while in Zimbabwe, its main use is to contact the dead.
It consists of metal keys (lamellas) and a soundbox. Players use their fingers to pluck the lamellas or to depress and release them to make music.
The kalimba is a widely renowned lamellophone from Africa but is also found in the Caribbean and in South America. In the 1950s, it was a pillar of rhumba music in Zaire, while in Zimbabwe, its main use is to contact the dead.
It consists of metal keys (lamellas) and a soundbox. Players use their fingers to pluck the lamellas or to depress and release them to make music.
Crwth
The crwth (pronounced 'crewth') is a bowed lyre with its origins in Wales.
It consists of a box-like body, a flat finger box and six strings, which are all played at the same time.
Though it resembles the violin, its tone is rougher and softer, with a droning quality. Originally, players used to pluck the strings, but from the 11th century, bows began to be used.
The crwth (pronounced 'crewth') is a bowed lyre with its origins in Wales.
It consists of a box-like body, a flat finger box and six strings, which are all played at the same time.
Though it resembles the violin, its tone is rougher and softer, with a droning quality. Originally, players used to pluck the strings, but from the 11th century, bows began to be used.
Vielle
Bearing some semblance to the modern-day violin, the Vielle appeared on the scene in the 10th century.
It has between three and five strings, a body resembling a leaf and pegs that tune from the front. The difference between this and the violin is that the vielle is longer and deeper, producing a distinctly different tone.
Though it was most popular in medieval times, there are still musician who use the instrument today.
Bearing some semblance to the modern-day violin, the Vielle appeared on the scene in the 10th century.
It has between three and five strings, a body resembling a leaf and pegs that tune from the front. The difference between this and the violin is that the vielle is longer and deeper, producing a distinctly different tone.
Though it was most popular in medieval times, there are still musician who use the instrument today.
Ranat Thum
A Thai, low-pitched xylophone, the Ranat Thum is made of bamboo, widely grown in that country.
The design of this instrument resembles a wood boat commonly used in Southeast Asian countries.
It consists of 17 wooden keys, each of which has a different tone, and is played by striking the keys with a mallet.
A Thai, low-pitched xylophone, the Ranat Thum is made of bamboo, widely grown in that country.
The design of this instrument resembles a wood boat commonly used in Southeast Asian countries.
It consists of 17 wooden keys, each of which has a different tone, and is played by striking the keys with a mallet.
Morin Khuur
The Morin Khuur, the horsehead fiddle, looks a lot like a violin but has only two strings. However it can produce a wide range of melody.
The Morin Khuur was based on the Mongolian horse-riding culture. Traditionally, according to legend, the body was made from horse bone and leather with horsehair for the strings and the bow.
It is usually played to accompany traditional Mongolian throat singing.
The Morin Khuur, the horsehead fiddle, looks a lot like a violin but has only two strings. However it can produce a wide range of melody.
The Morin Khuur was based on the Mongolian horse-riding culture. Traditionally, according to legend, the body was made from horse bone and leather with horsehair for the strings and the bow.
It is usually played to accompany traditional Mongolian throat singing.
Theremin
Not all unusual musical instruments are traditional. Take the Theremin, the progenitor of techno music.
Invented in the 1920s by Leon Theremin, this musical instrument looks like a radio, a box with an antenna, or two. It’s fascination comes from the fact that you do not need to touch it to play it. All you have to do is hover your hand around the antenna. The distance between the hand and the antenna will affect the sound that it will produce providing an almost infinite range of pitch and tone.
Anyone familiar with the Dr Who theme will know the sound.
Not all unusual musical instruments are traditional. Take the Theremin, the progenitor of techno music.
Invented in the 1920s by Leon Theremin, this musical instrument looks like a radio, a box with an antenna, or two. It’s fascination comes from the fact that you do not need to touch it to play it. All you have to do is hover your hand around the antenna. The distance between the hand and the antenna will affect the sound that it will produce providing an almost infinite range of pitch and tone.
Anyone familiar with the Dr Who theme will know the sound.
