Questions tagged [instruments]
For questions about generalities about instruments or groups of instruments.
359
questions
1
vote
1answer
26 views
A mixer or an audio interface? [on hold]
So I wanna jam live and record, I first wanted to buy a normal Behringer mixer with a built-in USB but I've been told the recording quality is not that good compared to audio interfaces, so I have two ...
7
votes
13answers
6k views
The quietest classical orchestra instrument to play at home [on hold]
I want to learn to play a new instrument to some extent (which is a part of a classical/romantic orchestra) in order to understand what is possible with this type of instruments and what not, which ...
3
votes
1answer
37 views
Protection of violins when moving to a new climate
I am about to move from a hot, dry climate (Johannesburg) to a very humid, cool climate (Overberg, South Africa). Is there anything I can do to protect my violins from the impact of the climate change?...
4
votes
1answer
51 views
What kind of whistle is it that raises in pitch?
What kind of whistle sounding instrument is it that for example can be heard throughout this song (first time at 0:47)?
It also serves as the whistle of Mysterious ...
12
votes
4answers
1k views
What is this sound, instrument? (Rheingold, Wagner)
I am currently composing something and I really want to have this sound in my piece. It sounds like a small hammer hammering on metal.
It starts at 1:08:07 (...
2
votes
1answer
91 views
How did musicians know what were the notes frequencies if they had no measuring tools? [duplicate]
Today we have devices that with the aid of a microphone can detect the frequency of a note. We can therefore calibrate all instruments and voices to a same pattern. But, how did people know how the ...
1
vote
1answer
43 views
What are the common instrument blends in classical/romantic symphonies? [closed]
The motivation of my question "What are the common instrument blends in classical/romantic symphonies?" is to learn which instrument combinations (e.g. clarinet + violin, horn + oboe + bassoon etc..), ...
0
votes
4answers
498 views
Stradivaris: are they worth their price? [closed]
An ordinary violin may cost about 1000 dollars. A Stradivari may cost some millions. Why are Stradivaris so expensive? Are they worth their price?
2
votes
1answer
73 views
What instruments are playing in this Frank Sinatra cover? [closed]
Writing an essay on this song and I can't seem to figure out the instruments playing on this youtube video and want to make sure I get it correct.
Beginning at 0:00 - 0:04. Before Sinatra sings.
0:17 ...
2
votes
3answers
144 views
How do different time signatures change how a song sounds?
I know that time signatures change how a song sound, but I don't know the rule, or how it does that. If a song is in 4/4 and it got changed into 6/8, I don't know how it would sound, or how much it ...
0
votes
1answer
85 views
Is it harder to play instruments in the morning? [closed]
Does anyone find it harder to play instruments in the morning? When I play piano at 8 9 10 am, fingers just feel so weird and brain is slow. Playing violin is much tougher because all my muscles are ...
4
votes
1answer
77 views
Is it normal for oud strings to touch other pegs on the head?
Recently I bought a cheap old oud without strings. I am an irish bouzouki player, so the wooden tuning pegs and the curved, angled head of the instrument is all new to me. The is noone near my place ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
Duplicate instruments in unison in an orchestra
Theoretically, each addition of a sound identical to the previous one results in a 6db increase in the final sound result.
I ask: is that why in some orchestrations we see, for example, 6 clarinets ...
0
votes
1answer
86 views
Software needed to change a church hymn for organ to a string. Can it be done?
I am looking for software that can convert a MIDI file in organ to a string or trumpet etc. automatically. Is there such a program?
Any help is appreciated.
-1
votes
1answer
62 views
Why can human voices sound like musicians' instruments? [closed]
We could represent any classical music using human voice. Why?
-3
votes
2answers
42 views
Bach 3G or Denis Wick 4.5AL for baritone? [closed]
I’ve got a Bb baritone that takes large shank mouthpieces. Should I get a 3g or 4.5al?
0
votes
1answer
85 views
Do I need an audio interface for recording if I have a mixer with a built-in USB?
I have Volca series synths and Behringer xenyx 802. I can record each Volca separately with an audio interface to my computer but If I want to play them and record them together (which is better for ...
0
votes
5answers
176 views
Choosing an instrument to double on
I am a saxophonist who has been contemplating the idea of doubling on another wind instrument for a long time. My teacher recommends doubling on flute (closed tone holes), but professional-level ...
3
votes
1answer
79 views
What are the mechanics behind flute keys used to play chromatic notes?
I recently listened to recordings of the bansuri, a bamboo flute used in Indian (Hindu) music, and I thought about trying to make one myself from scratch. A tutorial I found on wikiHow makes the ...
3
votes
3answers
217 views
Are some intrument combinations incompatible? [closed]
Apart from instruments that are out of tune relative to each other, are there combinations of instruments that are incompatible with each other, and why. Do instruments even have to be in tune ...
1
vote
2answers
93 views
What is this blowing instrument used in the acoustic cover of “Taekwondo” by “Walk off the Earth”? [closed]
At around 1:44 of the acoustic cover of Taekwondo by "Walk of the Earth", the musicians play a blowing instrument.
What instrument is this?
5
votes
1answer
2k views
What Musical Instrument is this? [closed]
So I came across this Snarky Puppy's video and I saw an instrument that I'm not familiar with.
Hoping you guys could tell me what's this instrument called? Thanks!
15
votes
6answers
2k views
Genetic limitations to learn certain instruments
This is something that has bothered me for quite a while.
I frequently participate in instrument demonstrations for children. My focus is on wind instruments but I'm also curious about others.
What I ...
23
votes
10answers
6k views
Are there any instruments that don't produce overtones?
Essentially all instruments produce overtones, which are frequencies
other than the dominant frequency of the note.
-- How do harmonics work?
The use of "essentially" there got me thinking. Are ...
6
votes
4answers
465 views
Pitch and Volume Compensations for Different Instruments
I'm curious if various instruments require that the player compensate in any way (in terms of technique, e.g., force used to bow, force used to blow, or embouchure alterations) when playing low vs. ...
4
votes
1answer
130 views
Bass scale length pros and cons [duplicate]
For the last two years I’ve been seriously learning the guitar as my second instrument. I also bought a used low quality bass that I have been playing for the last 6 months or so. I am really enjoying ...
6
votes
4answers
185 views
Which instruments (besides piano) are in one to one correspondence with its range of notes? [closed]
We know that for each note in a piano's range, there is only one key pertaining to that note. This is in contrast to, say, a guitar where there are multiple ways to play, say, middle C.
Are there ...
13
votes
7answers
2k views
Beginner looking to learn/master musical theory and instrumental ability. Where should I begin? [closed]
I have always had a subtle but under the hood feel that music is for me. I've never trained myself nor had any real dedicated musical practice, but I have composed music on my computer. What I don't ...
2
votes
2answers
202 views
What is this instrument called and can you give me suggestions which one to buy if i am a beginner? [closed]
I really want to learn this instrument, but I dont know how it is called those are two youtube videos that people are using the instrument -
and this one
...
0
votes
1answer
105 views
how to play midi keyboard on windows? [duplicate]
First, let me say I am an absolute newbie. I have a couple of Yamaha keyboards and wish to play other instruments than just the voices that come with it. I found questions like this answered, How to ...
13
votes
2answers
2k views
What is the oldest instrument ever?
What is the oldest musical instrument played other than the human voice, but body parts are acceptable? Did Neanderthals use instruments to play music?
3
votes
1answer
109 views
Do uilleann pipes have a “louder” lower D?
I’ve always loved the skirl of the uilleann pipes ever since I first heard it used in the James Horner’s Titanic OST as a kid. I don’t know much of anything about the instrument (or bagpipes generally)...
0
votes
2answers
98 views
Properties of a very low pitched natural horn?
I would linke to aquire a natural horn to play a very low pitched tone. I am not educated in music, so I don't even know how to describe the tone in a correct way (is it "low pitched"?), but I found a ...
2
votes
2answers
302 views
The variety of all transposing instruments
A recent question on tuning saxophones caused me to wonder on the variety of transposing instruments. Here's some that I already know:
C - Non-transposing or by whole octaves.
At concert pitch - too ...
1
vote
3answers
207 views
There is an instrument similar to Meowsic Cat Piano, but with Chicken sounds?
I'm working on a game with chickens and I would love to have the chickens sing songs, pretty similar to Gonzo Chickens from "Muppets show".
But I'm having a hard time finding a way to do it.
I found ...
1
vote
1answer
58 views
What instrument is playing in the middle of this song? [closed]
There's some kind of flute playing in this song from 2:18 to 2:40
but they don't show the player so I'm not sure. What instrument is that?
4
votes
3answers
1k views
Right piano pedal is bright
The piano at my home has three pedals, and the one at the right is brighter and shinier than the other two. What has happened? Is it normal?
0
votes
1answer
74 views
How do you ream a conical bore when making a woodwind instrument?
There isn't a lot of documentation on how reaming woodwind instruments works, and how you do it. Is there a specific method to making a smooth conical bore, like in that of an oboe? I've seen people ...
-2
votes
1answer
38 views
Which clarinet model/brand should I buy as a beginner [closed]
I'm considering to buy a Clarinet. As a beginner who already plays trumpet which brand/model should I pick ?
Here are a few examples of what I have been offered so far :
Yamaha
Jupiter
Taishan ...
3
votes
1answer
58 views
How can it be explained that the natural fifth of an euphonium is not in the “natural fifth pitch?
I practice with 3 different Euphoniums, a brass-instrument like a small tuba. One of them - a Yamaha training instrument with 4 valves in a row - has a bad intonation at the natural fifth (upper G) ...
-1
votes
2answers
150 views
How did Rameau's Treatise on Harmony (1722) influence the mass production of musical instruments?
Rameau's Treatise on Harmony (1722) initiated a revolution in music theory but in what ways did that translate into popularizing music ... particularly the mass production of musical instruments?
...
2
votes
1answer
104 views
What are these instruments? adkhor-pondour, damkech, enietkoutchine, joujjalka, sybyzgui, taura
I'm trying to find info on some instruments from an ethnographic set of music from the former USSR area. Namely:
adkhor-pondour - Chechen
damkech - Azerbaijani
enietkoutchine - Siberian
joujjalka - ...
8
votes
1answer
124 views
Did Stravinsky and Craft have a dual piano built?
I remember being told 20 years or so ago that Igor Stravinsky used to compose with Robert Craft as an in-person assistant to play things together as they were being composed.
I also remember being ...
4
votes
4answers
134 views
Can I leave an accordion for 1 night in a car while its freezing outside?
I'm taking my accordion on a road trip and I need to leave it in a car while I'm camping outside. Its going to be below freezing at night, 25F.
Its a used vintage accordion that did not cost me much ...
0
votes
3answers
85 views
Small instrument to check my sight singing [closed]
I practice sight singing in the morning. I need some way to check if what I vocalize is correct.
What is very small instrument I can do it with (barring a smartphone that I don't want to turn on in ...
0
votes
2answers
144 views
What is this Japanese bell instrument used on “Ryuichi Sakamoto - Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence”? [closed]
at 0:56 the bells are playing the main melody.
I hear this type of bell a lot in Japanese songs.
What is this instrument called ?
7
votes
1answer
692 views
Sound changes: Putting curves or bends into a straight horn
I have some straight bell horns that are 26" and 29". They are powered by air compression tanks and have a very deep tone. I'm curious as to how bends in the horn would change it. Would they then need ...
0
votes
2answers
35 views
10
votes
2answers
184 views
How does the use of silver influence the quality of a flute?
Flutes are made from a variety of materials. Student flutes are normally made from silver-plated nickel, while better quality flutes (sometimes the body and the head and sometimes only the head) are ...
2
votes
1answer
28 views
Self-built reeds for Blues Harp
A reed of my C blues harp went broken and I don't have the opportunity to replace the harp or the reed board until I need it.
As a improvised solution, I thought of cutting a reed-shaped piece out of ...
