Questions tagged [instruments]
For questions about generalities about instruments or groups of instruments.
368
questions
20
votes
11answers
5k views
Does an instrument like this exist?
A guitar-like fretted, stringed instrument that you play on your lap. And not a lap steel, but something that takes full advantage of the way it is held. The orientation of the instrument would allow ...
14
votes
2answers
967 views
Trumpet type or technique?
In Wagner’s “Rule, Britannia”, the orchestration calls for two trumpets.
I’ve had no luck searching for what “vent.” and “ord.” mean. “Open” and “muted”, or ...?
1
vote
0answers
16 views
re a 2 row treble diatonic button accordion
I am used to playing a 2 row treble BC button accordion with the B row on the inside & the C row on the outside. I now have a new Castagnari similar one, but the 2 treble rows are the opposite to ...
0
votes
2answers
109 views
Why are the many instruments notes are not in order?
For example, the harmonica notes are made as follows (based on 16H):
E A G B C D E F G A C B E D G F
Why not make it like this?
F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G
The same goes for violin strings:
G ...
6
votes
3answers
203 views
Trombone C Vs Bb : Fundamental Vs transposing
I'm an amateur tenor trombone player. I learnt to play by playing with other, never learnt much music theory.
I have a question regarding the "name" of the trombone. The traditional tenor trombone ...
42
votes
8answers
2k views
Does the difference in harmonic series between instruments have a significant effect on the consonance of the sound?
We all know that an instrument's timbre is uniquely determined by its harmonic series. Harmonic series are also very effective in describing whether an interval is consonant or not. For example, the ...
36
votes
5answers
5k views
Why do pianos not need to be tuned every time you play?
I usually tune my guitar and violin whenever I play them. I assume most people do too. But what makes piano strings different?
I know it is a lot of work to tune a piano, but I'm under the assumption ...
3
votes
1answer
86 views
Isan musical instruments used in songs of Yard Napalai
Isan is a culturally-diverse north-eastern region of Thailand where the common language is a combination of Thai and Lao and with "touches" of Cambodian (especially in south Isan near the border with ...
2
votes
2answers
296 views
Can I use a D bamboo flute to play a C key
I actually want to buy a D bamboos flute but I would like to know whether I can use it to play other keys as well
2
votes
10answers
228 views
Am I in a rough patch or have I lost my love for piano?
my name is Emma and I have been playing the piano for just under eight years.
I started playing the piano when I was nine and was put into the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) system a year later. ...
30
votes
15answers
11k views
Why aren't there attempts to evolve classical musical instruments so that they're easier to play?
Roughly speaking, it takes anywhere between 5 and 15 years to become proficient in one of the classical music instruments, making it a very difficult skill for most of us.
But why not try and make ...
2
votes
1answer
53 views
Washboard as Instrument
I know that some washboards are fabricated from the outset to be musical instruments.
Are they significantly better than using just any old antique washboard I might happen to find around?
I'm ...
1
vote
0answers
17 views
10-hole harmonica types [duplicate]
Of the many 10-hole harmonicas I have, only one enables me to play almost all of the true notes in a song: It is a hohner I have misplaced which I have had for 40 years. It is one of the few I have ...
1
vote
1answer
46 views
A mixer or an audio interface? [closed]
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 [closed]
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
50 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
70 views
What kind of whistle is it that raises in pitch? [closed]
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
2k 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
106 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
65 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
512 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
79 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
160 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
131 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
132 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
87 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
75 views
Why can human voices sound like musicians' instruments? [closed]
We could represent any classical music using human voice. Why?
-3
votes
2answers
46 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
112 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
188 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
171 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
248 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 ...
15
votes
6answers
3k 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 ...
24
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
498 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. ...
5
votes
1answer
401 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
203 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
211 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
465 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?
6
votes
2answers
145 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
128 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
355 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
296 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
62 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
103 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
44 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 ...
