Crazy Instruments of the World

Subscribe:

Have you ever wished you had a wildly exotic instrument that you could pull out and play with expertise, to the amazement of friends and concertgoers?

It’s never been easier to get your hands on and learn a strange instrument.

Didgeridoo, Bagpipes… or Hurdy-gurdy?

You could take up the Didgeridoo, for instance. It’s the oldest known wind instrument, originating with the Aboriginals of Northern Australia. It’s long and slightly conical, made of wood, and although you can only play one note, the tone is earthy and emotive.

Bagpipes are nice-bring a hefty set of lungs to that party, though. The Hurdy-gurdy, perhaps? This sounds just a little like the bagpipes, but it’s shaped like a violin, and is played by turning a crank (which sounds the strings) and using a set of piano-like keys (which control pitch).

Harmonica? Accordion?

If your tastes run more towards the blues or the blue-grass, get yourself a Harmonica. It won’t take a lot of time to get started, and you can dive right into the pleasure of perfecting your skill.

You could also pick up the Ukulele (easy and small) or the Accordion (clumsy but full of character, and excellent for a quaint European flavor). Or the Balalaika, from Russia and the Ukraine, is an interesting triangular stringed instrument.

Or… let’s really go crazy

But if you really want to raise a few eyebrows, why not learn the Harpouditar (a 26-string guitar)? Or the Skatar (a guitar and bass made out of a skateboard)? Or the Rumitone (a sit-and-spin sculpture instrument, played by striking metal stick-like bells while dancing)?

You might also consider the Windform, created by Australian artist Garry Greenwood. It’s a gorgeous 20-foot-long horn made out of leather. Not sure how easy it is to get your hands on one, though.

If your fancy runs to fluting, the Shakahachi flute is an easy, exotic start. It’s short, Japanese, end-blown, and tuned to a 5-note scale, but can produce all 12 notes in the Western chromatic scale. Or you could try the Ringflute, which looks like a ring of pipe with special holes.

A taste of the Pikasso… or vegetable orchestra?

If you really want to impress the guys at home, play the Pikasso for them. This is a piece of legend created by luthier (lute maker) Linda Manzer specifically for guitarist Pat Metheny. It has four necks, two sound holes, and 42 strings, and it took 2 years to make. You have to see it to believe it.

If you’re running a little low on the cash end of things, get into vegetable playing (yes; the ones you eat).

The Viennese Vegetable Orchestra has been doing it since 1998. They’ve got 11 musicians, a sound engineer, a video artist… and a cook. They play Cuke-o-phones, Radish-marimbas, Carrot Flutes, Pumpkin Basses, Leek Violins, and other freshly made instruments, and they play them all over Europe and Asia.

If you prefer the Harpischord, but find it too bland, you might see if you can find the one Henry Lim made of 100,000 LEGOs.

Spicing up the church music

If you’re interested in spicing up your church music, there is a wide array of eccentric organs to explore. Try the Bubble Organ, which uses balloons, PVC, and bubbling water. Or the Beer Bottle Organ, which is, as you might imagine, made up of beer bottles instead of pipes.

The Stalacpipe Organ plays on 3 ½ acres of stalactites, although, on the flip side, it’s very difficult to move. The Sea Organ is the first organ in the world to be played by ocean waves.

But the crown organ choice is probably the Uberorgan. It’s made up of several bus-size biomorphic balloons, for a total size of 15,000 square-feet.

Whatever your chosen weapon-make sure you get to be killer on it. There’s a Diggeridoo player somewhere who’ll put you to shame.