just wondering...
 

What's the strangest instrument you guys have ever seen or heard? :D

not including the bagpipes of course!

I'd say the theremin, but strangeness is relative.

The crank-operated hurdy gurdy is always fun:

http://thepuredrop.com.au/instruments/hurdygurdy.jpg

Definitely the contrabass flute, it's a flute on steroids, honestly I don't think a flute should be that big. Another weird thing about is not only it's size but all the flappy noise it makes.


I guess the Nychelharpa is also strange to me because the amount of strings and the complex way of stopping the string is done, compared to the four string and plain fingerboard of instruments in the violin family, but it does have a nice sound to it.
http://www.burg-fuersteneck.de/folk/...ckelharpa2.jpg

I didn't even know these sorts of instruments existed...

I'm actually looking into building my own theremin.

It is "flappy" because the mechanism is much slower than on regular soprano C flutes. Also, she seems to be slamming her fingers down on the keys which just displays a lack of discipline regarding technique. Although the piece she is playing is fairly modern (it is a modern instrument), so often times percussive effects are required.

The other day I actually got to try a contrabass flute at the store. Only a few flute makers produce them, and they are very expensive. Even the ones made from PVC pipe. The silver plated one they're selling on FluteWorld.com is $14,531.00.

There is also a subcontrabass flute:



This guy has better finger technique than the girl in the other video, so you won't hear the mechanism so much. It sounds a lot like a double bass, or maybe even the octobass.

There is a relatively new flute invention called the Hyperbass Flute as well. I believe this is only part of it (pictured with some other low flutes). The Hyperbass is 32 feet of PVC tubing.

http://www.lowflutes.com/publicfiles...FLUTE_TREE.jpg

Edit: The flute on the far right is an Alto Flute, which is what I play regularly.

I've heard that they're not too hard to make, I say go for it! Be sure to get some pics or a good video of it playing for us. I have a theremin that I bought and it's hard for me to get anything good without assaulting it with effects. Luckily I do noise music so that's fine with me.

Jesus christ, that thing is massive.

More unusual instruments here than you could shake a Shruti Stick at...

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