There are many, many different instruments out there in the world. From the size of whistles to the size of buses, instruments come in all shapes and sizes. Some of these instruments you may have never even seen or heard of before.

This thread is about showcasing those less common instruments so that everyone may have the joy and benefit of knowing about them, listening to them and maybe even playing them.

Every week on this current day a new instrument will be added by myself.

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Anyone is free to contribute to build up this database of uncommon and sometimes, unusual instruments. All you need to do is follow these guide lines....


- Quality over Quantity. You may not be able to find much about these instruments, and sometimes you may find too much. There's no need to go listing all the famous people who played it and the history of how it was made. Provide a brief history, where it came from and when it was made. What type is it? Woodwind, Strings, Brass, Percussion? What they are most commonly made out of, a brief description of the sound and other details. Think of this like a brochure, not a report.

- You may wish to include sound files, if you can find some then go for it. Its even better if we can actually hear what these instruments sound like.

- This is supposed to be about the joy of discovering something new. Don't make it boring with useless information.

- If you can find a video of the instrument being played, then by all means include it in the post.


Feel free to ask questions about the instruments and I will try to include where to buy them if possible. Good reading to you all, and I hope one of the instruments to come captures your heart.

Hang Drum

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Panart_hang.jpg

The Hang Drum is very similar to the steelpan or metal drum often associated with calypso music. The Hang Drum consists of 2 metallic bowls which sit on top of one another. The Hang can be played with both these bowls on top of each other or separately however. It has numerous pads or indents along the side which when struck produce a note; Hangs can have, at the moment, from 5 to 13 different notes on them. It is made to be playing with it sitting in your lap and tapped or struck with your hands.

The Hang Drum is an extremely new instrument, only having been made in the year 2000 by Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer in Switzerland. The pair later established the company PANArt which continued the development of the Hang.

The Hang has become increasingly popular over the years, with more and more people requesting them and largely because of its magical sound.

Below is a video of one of the more famous Hang players, Davide Swarup. Just skip to :22 to start listening.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97IrMi9AZ3c&feature=related

And for those who wish to purchase a Hang, prepare for a lot of hard work. The only way to order a Hang is to find a retailer that has been shipped one directly from PANArt, the developers or to directly contact PANArt. Now PANArt only sent out 500 to stores, so it will be EXTRAORDINARILY HARD to find one. However you can also directly contact the company by mail or phone to order one. They do not have a website so this is the only way unless you directly visit the workshop.

PANArt ceased making them over the last 2 years and have plans to start making them again this year, as they were refining the design. If you wish to order one, have about $5000 USD handy and follow the contact details below. Be prepared to wait though, Hang's take a long time to make and the company only takes a few requests. So it might be years after you order one, before you can own it.

PANArt phone and mailing address.

PANArt Hangbau AG
Engehaldenstr. 131
3012 Bern, Switzerland
International Phone: +41 31 301 33 32

I have to say that was really cool. I like the sound.

The hang is pretty cool sounding, but I think you'd have to be crazy to pay $5000 for what amounts to an upside-down metal bowl. They could probably mass-produce those things for like twenty bucks each. Like, the cover for my little charcoal grill I bought at walmart makes similar sounds. = \
Some other company should make a knockoff...I want one. Definitely an interesting instrument. I just think they're crazy charging so much, unless there's something special about them I'm missing here. XP

Its the time it takes to make one and the metals they use. PANArt haven't released the details of how the Hang is made but it involves the use of gases and temperature changes. Also its made up on unusual materials. I just can't remember what they are. :heh:

I do believe there is a cheaper version that is about $2000 but you only get 5 notes and 1 muffled bass tone. The $5000 one is the standard model with 12 notes and 2 proper bass tones. You could probably make one using different materials which would reduce the cost, but I'm pretty sure you wouldn't get the same resonance and clarity of the notes with that. The notes on the Hang are tuned perfectly and regardless of where you strike the indent, they don't change pitch. Other similar instruments change pitch when struck on a different spot, the Hang does not do this. If you were to strike the non-indented sections however, you would get harmonics when near the notes and a raised octave of the bass tone when near the bass indent.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this just a variation of a Steel Drum that you strike with your hands as opposed to soft mallets?

SUDDENLY, CHALLENGERS APPEAR!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQYQEfjnL3Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqVW72GzA9U&feature=player_embedded

Not sure what the Caisa costs, but the Halo's around $1500, apparently. Still expensive, but nowhere near the the Hang's price. I guess they are expensive instruments, though!
But I still wouldn't buy one, with their limited note range and niche sound. I don't think they could ever play anything that would make me cry, unlike piano, guitar, violin, etc...

I still like the armonica: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeeQQLoxHfw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Gx5Dk-42lE&feature=related
As one of the comments in the video says, they were believed to cause insanity because of their eerie sound. It was actually just lead poisoning from the old glass. XD
If I were rich, I'd buy one of those. They start around eight grand I think, for smaller sizes, so one with a few octaves must be freaking expensive...

Of course, even as an "other instrument," one song was composed for it that everyone knows: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQemvyyJ--g&feature=related
...or was it written for the celesta? I dunno. I like them both, though, hahah!
Info edit: Originally written for armonica, but then switched to celesta, lol.

Another one! Hurdy Gurdy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DX08nQows0&feature=related

Sounds like a creepy violin! =D

Another one! Hurdy Gurdy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DX08nQows0&feature=related

Sounds like a creepy violin! =D

I love the Hurdy Gurdy, a friend of mine owns one. Expensive and hard to maintain but they're incredible to play. They're really fun on a stormy day, just sitting there and letting the atmosphere it creates fill the room. A fairly old instrument they are too, I believe the earliest recorded one is from the late 12th century. :think:

Just a note people, general discussion is fine; but it you are going to post a new instrument, provide some details to keep with the form. :)

Sorry I missed last week but I was away from home and as a result, no computer. :heh:

But now back to business.

Turkish Spike Fiddle

http://www.soundworldinstruments.com/files/2285313/uploaded/SPKF.jpg

Probably one of the more normal instruments, this small cello like instrument hails from Turkey and around the western Mediterranean. Spike Fiddles have known to be around during 2000 B.C. however documentation only lists them during 0 A.D. and beyond. The Turkish Spike Fiddle is often referred to as the Rebab however there are slight differences in their origins. It is also referred to as the Kamanche (not to be confused with the Kemenche). It is known by many names however other names such as the Kemenche and Keman have been associated with other instruments for longer in history, therefore the Spike Fiddle is known by many different names, neither of which is correct.

The Spike Fiddle got its name by the 'spike' at the base of it, which either sat on the ground, on a stool when played standing or sat in some sort of belt apparatus when standing. The Spike Fiddle ranges from about 16 - 24 inches tall and generally consists of 2-4 strings. Most Spike Fiddles tend to have the range of Viola's being Alto and Tenor instruments. The Enchanting sound of the Spike Fiddle is an icon of the Middle East and Western Mediterranean and is also featured in India, however sometimes in different forms and variations. The Spike Fiddle hasn't any frets like a violin but is played standing up like a cello.

An audio file of the most traditional sound of the Spike Fiddle. Some newer ones are made using different materials and methods, which results in them sounding much like violins; this I find takes away from their Heritage though.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3AdpPtV-WE

You may purchase one for $300 - $900 from Lark In The Morning (http://www.larkinam.com/), whom I have dealt with before and have been very satisfied with.

I have to say that was really cool. I like the sound.

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I've always loved traditional japanese instruments, especially the hichirki. But you can research them as much as you want. This site's got quite a lot for a begginer to sink their teeth into.
https://ccrma.stanford.edu/groups/gagaku/woodwinds/hichiriki.html
However, I love the theremin. I own one too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l9YcewEumw
amazing instrument. Take a look at the wikipedia page if you want.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theremin
and as for the waterphone... maybe another time :P