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Weird/Unconventional/Lesser Known Instruments
One thing I am interested in as a music fan is exploring new sounds, and to achieve that there should always be many instruments to go around, and theres many weird instruments in the world than just the ones we have come to know.
I'll start off with different posts about individual instruments. Starting with this. The Chapman Stick: http://www.stick.com/articles/birth/sticks.jpg One thing you will notice right off the bat is that the Chapman Stick dosen't really have a body, rather it's just one big fat neck. It is an electric instrument and there are three varieties, a 8 string, a 10 string and a 12 string. It was designed by Jazz musician Emmett Chapman in the early 70s. Since it lacks a body, the chapman stick wasn't designed to be picked or plucked but instead it is to be played primarly via tapping and fretting with both hands. Because of this the Chapman is able to sound off many more notes than the average stringed instrument. With every Chapman there are 4, 5 or 6 melody strings and 4, 5 or 6 bass strings. This enables Chapman players to play bass, chords and melody lines simultaneously. The Chapman is also known for its very unique tone. Notable Chapman Stick players include Guido Ponzini, Don Schiff, Guillermo Cides, Greg Howard and of course Chapman himself. But the most notable is Tony Levin, he was to the Chapman Stick what Hendrix was to the electric guitar as far as popularizing the instrument and truly defining it's capabilities is concerned. Some demonstrations. YouTube - King Crimson "Elephant Talk" Tony Levin with King Crimson some time in 1981/82, performing "Elephant Talk". YouTube - Don Schiff - Ireland Don Schiff, performing his piece "Ireland". YouTube - Guido Ponzini - Rainstorm upon the harbour Guido Ponzini, with a more virtuoso approach to the instrument with his own improvisation. YouTube - Guillermo Cides - Dance a Lot Guillermo Cides, demonstrating the really cool sh*t you can do with just a stick and a loop machine. YouTube - Big Meadows - Live Greg Howard, with percussionist Darrell Rose. YouTube - STICK Master Emmett Chapman-1983 Emmett Chapman, the mad scientist himself. A little insight into why this is one of my favorite instruments. Tell me what you think. More to come. |
Wow thats sooooo weird....I don't know but I think I have seen those played, are they normally set on a table?
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No, they have straps and are intended to be played upright.
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I've actually gotten very proficient at the kazoo recently and tried incorporating it into recording, i'm trying to get an array of cheap instruments that aren't seen in music for recording lately.
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Well good luck, these babies are usuaully in the $2000 price range because of their rarity. I'm sure they can be purchased for cheap from a pawn shop or online though, but they wouldn't be easy to find.
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Nick Urata from DeVotchKa plays both the Theremin and Bouzouki. I had the chance to play a Theremin once......awesome instrument operated by moving a hand by the metal and manipulating the magnetic energy between the pole and your hand. And a bouzouki is not to be confused with like a sitar or mandolin.....similar but of different origin. Images in image attachments of both.
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Next up. Not quite as obscure.
The Theremin: http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/theremin.jpg Invented by Léon Theremin in 1919. The Theremin truly is a freak among instruments, it's often associated with the 1950s and science fiction movies. It is unique in that it is the first instrument to be played with out touching. Its made up of two radio frequency oscillators and two metal antennae, which are very sensitive to even the most subtle vibrations and movement. One of the antennae (the one that looks like a loop) controls volume, the farther your hand is from it the louder it gets, and vice versa. The other one controls pitch and is the one used to play notes. Players offen shake their hands to get a clean vibrato sound, which is what Theremin more than anything else is known for, it's tone and effect is very similar to that of the musical saw. The instrument never became a real commercial success. It did however gather a large cult following and it's influence and impact on modern electronic music can still be heard today. Robert Moog was a theremin enthusiast and he studied the instrument before creating his own masterpiece, the Moog synthesizer. Rock bands who have used or experimented with the Theremin include Jimmy Page, Pere Ubu, The Decemberists, Patrick Wolf and Fishbone among others. A demonstration. YouTube - Theremin Lesson One A similar instrument created in 1928 is The Ondes Martenot: http://www.ishibashi.co.jp/academic/...rtenot-01s.jpg The fundamental difference between the Ondes Martenot and the Theremin is that the Martenot needs to be touched, it consists of a keyboard and a sensitive string tied to a finger ring and a strip control to manage virbato and glissando. It also has built in pitch and volume control, filters and loud speakers. Popular musicians who have used the Martenot include Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead and Frank Zappa. Demonstration. YouTube - Jean Laurendeau and the Ondes Martenot |
The dude from Quasi used the Theremin on some Elliott Smith recordings =) and Patrick Wolf<3
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I found the Theremin youtube video pretty sweet, one of the stranger instruments out there..
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Next up.
The Warr Guitar: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...tar-Raptor.jpg This crafty instrument invented by Mark Warr is somewhat of a variation between guitar and chapman stick, it can be played either like a Chapman (with both hands used for fretting and tapping) or like a traditional guitar, with picking and just about any kind of guitar or bass technique. It has a HUGE neck and there are 8 string, 12 string and 14 string varieties. There are several kinds of Warrs, some are fretted, some are fretless and some are even both at the same time (with frets on one side and none on the other). Like Chapman there are bass and melodic strings. It comes with special Piezoelectric pickups which can give it a very synthesizer like harmonic sound. There is no standard tuning for the instrument and it can be played in a variety of ways. Some of the strings are used for drone like chikari strings on a sitar. The strings are also more sensitive than those of the average guitar. Theres also a Warr Bass model especially for bassists. The most notable Warr guitarist is Trey Gunn (King Crimson, Trey Gunn Band). Demonstrations. YouTube - Trey Gunn - Sozzle The Trey Gunn Band. YouTube - New Warr Improv 1 Some guy named Bonzo Estewjo, pretty neat. YouTube - Warr In Space Another Bonzo clip. |
What I call the "ten dollar drumset"
http://images.hobbytron.com/XT-28805-lg.jpg It's basically so underappreciated in music that I have yet to hear of any musician use this in a professional setting... it produces sounds that are akin to hitting paper with sticks, and produces a very intense reaction to most of the audience, which can most accurately be described as "acute annoyance." Sells for about ten to twenty dollars at anywhere from Eckerd to Toys R' Us. |
Ah.... Meg Whites drum set of choice.
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Ok.
The Harp Guitar: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...arp_Guitar.jpg http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/gibsonharp.jpg The name says it all. Though this instrument is not too common or well known. Its not new, in fact this instrument is at least two centuries old. The idea is simple, an accoustic guitar but with an extra neck which supports unstopped open bass strings like that of a harp. The guitar pictured at the top is a classic 12 string model. While the ones at the bottom are modern designs with up to 20 strings. Notice that on them the sound hole takes a more oval shape and leaves more room for the fretted strings to be plucked and played openly as well. Harp guitar is a great instrument for those who specialize in accoustic music, its picked up a following with jazz players as well. One notable harp guitar enthusiast was the late Michael Hedges, one of the greatest accoustic guitarists who ever lived. Other notables include Muriel Anderson and Andy McKee. YouTube - Michael Hedges - Because It's There Hedges giving a perfect demonstration of the instrument. Take note the various techniques he is using. And pay no attention to the hair. YouTube - Andy Mckee - The Friend I never met Andy McKee. Pay no attention to the beard. YouTube - Andy Mckee - Into the Ocean MeKee again. YouTube - Andy Mckee - Harp Guitar And again. YouTube - Muriel Anderson - Lady Pamela - CAAS 2006 Muriel Anderson. Pay no attention to the estrogen. YouTube - Muriel Anderson - Waterfalls - CAAS Anderson again. With Julie Adams (fat redhead chick) on Cello. |
Thats hella badass, I want one.
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Ok. This one is a real brainf*ck. Presenting the most pretentious overblown instrument ever made.
The Pikasso: http://www.everythingweird.com/images/42_guitar.jpg The first thing that comes to mind is, how in the hell does someone play that? How do you even pick the damn thing up? Indeed it does look like something the great Pablo Pikasso would cook up. But it was actually cooked up by Linda Manzer, one of the finest luthiers in the world, and it was custom made for Jazz fusion great Pat Metheny. It was Mathenys desire to play a guitar with "as many strings as possible". A true freak among guitars. 4 necks, 5 main bridges on the body, 2 sound holes, 2 access doors and 42 strings. It took 2 years to create. Its rather heavy, it weighs around 6.7 kg or 14 3/4 lbs. It features a state of the art pickup system. The fretted six string section features hexaphonic pickup which allowed Metheny to control synthesizers and samples, simply by playing this instrument. Only two Pikassos have ever been made, one for Metheny, and a strictly accoustic version for the late Scott Chinery, it is simply known as the Pikasso II, and was recently on display at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. No videos. Sorry. :( |
I'd srrsly like to see someone play that.
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Siamese twins connected at the hip.
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Yes. The result of guitar incest.
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The Bazantar:
http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/bazantar.jpg The Bazantar is a relatively new creation, invented by Mark Deutsch (pictured above). Its essentially a 5 string upright accoustic bass, but with 33 strings added, 29 sympathetic strings and 4 drone strings. Adding a whole new sound and texture to the classical instrument. The sympathetic strings range spans at 4 octaves, but the instrument itself has an impressive 5 octave range. When the melodic, sympathetic and drone strings are played together, it creates a very rich, complex soundscape. YouTube - Mark Deutsch Playing the Bazantar Demonstration by Deutsch. http://www.oddmusic.com/clips/bazantar.mp3 Sound clip. |
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I once looked at that oddmusic.com site. It's pretty sweet. I have it somewhere in my bookmarks.
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I know. Its amazing.
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Want to really annoy people? Try this
The Daxophone: http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/daxophone.jpg http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/daxophone2.jpg This crazy thing was invented by Hans Reichel, its a friction idiophone, similar to the musical bow, only completely different. Its made up of a thin wooden blade fixed in a wooden block. Theres usually a mic attached, and its usually supported by a tripod. It is often played with a bow, producing a distinguished (and very obnoxious) sound and tone. It can also be struck or plucked. The fretting item in the second pic is used to control the pitch and tone of the instrument. A wide range of vocal like sounds can be produced on Daxophone. Depending on the shape of the wooden blade (they come in many shapes and sizes) and where it is bowed. Heres the musical monstrosity in action. YouTube - Daxophone - Hans Reichel Hans Reichel doing a demonstration. http://www.oddmusic.com/clips/daxophone1.mp3 Sound clip. |
Sounds like a piece of shit.
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I know. But thats the idea.
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And if you think that was annoying. :D
The Savart's Wheel: http://www.windworld.com/emi_images/jbhsavart72.JPG This device was made specifically to create the most grating, irritating sound imaginable, but still have a melodic range. Something like a Rooster getting its balls torn off. Its made up of discs of graduating size (to create a funnel shape) on a motor powered spindle. The discs are covered in ridges, as the discs rotate, the player holds a plectrum against the ridges. Creating its trademark tone of horror. Each disc controls a different frequency. http://www.windworld.com/feature_pag...babyplease.mp3 Click on it, if you dare. |
Sounds a lot like something Omar would use on an album.
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These last two instruments have made me laugh hysterically. Great thread.
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Check your nearest Pawn and Antiques shops, or eBay. I'm sure there are some available online. Theres a lot of personal websites by people who make these for a living.
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I felt like reviving this thread.
The 3rd Bridge Guitar: http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/moodswinger.jpg The name is pretty straightfoward, these are guitars with 3rd bridges, lying on the neck. This concept began with musicians simply taking a regular guitar and then applying an object (like a screwdriver or a drumstick) underneath the strings and on the neck, creating a third bridge, giving the guitar brand new tones that resemble bells and chimes. Lee Renaldo of Sonic Youth is notable for doing this. Eventually though luthiers began making their own custom 3rd bridge guitars. Glenn Branca and Fred Frith (from the band Henry Cow) are examples of musicians who have made their own 3rd bridge guitars. The one shown in the picture is a custom made instrument called the Moodswinger, though its not really a guitar as much as its a zither. It has no frets and lacks a conventional guitar neck, in addition the pick ups and electronics are built into the neck, rather than the body. It was designed by Dutch luthier Yuri Landman especially for the Indie band Liars. Weither people use a custom made 3rd bridge guitar or make their own by just using a screwdriver, this techinqiue has become rather popular with avant garde and alternative rock musicians. Fred Frith, Sonic Youth, Liars and Slint being the most notable examples. YouTube - Sonic Youth-Bull in the heather Bull in the Heather by Sonic Youth, making use of the screwdriver technique. YouTube - Good morning, captain - Slint Another example, this time by Slint. YouTube - Fred Frith - Hello Music Something to listen to when you're tripping balls. Liars – Leather Prowler – Listen free at Last.fm Brief sample of the Moodswinger. |
Not the most aesthetically pleasing instrument. Liars rule.
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Ladies and gentlemen......The Hurdy-gurdy AKA the crank fiddle
http://www.saitenklang.de/vielle/pil...r_gitarre2.jpg |
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As for Weird/Unconventional/Lesser Known Instruments...well...its not really an "instrument"...but Imogen Heap's Hide and Seek sounds really, really, really sweet. The extent and way they harmonize her voice creates an effect that makes it seem like there's an accompanist, but there isn't! I personally haven't heard anything like that song ever...I don't know about you guys. |
I've seen a hurdy-gurdy before. It's in this book I have. It was in "The Golden Encyclopidia Of Music".
I have a question, Where do you find all this out?! |
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