Questions tagged [instruments]
For questions about generalities about instruments or groups of instruments.
346
questions
-1
votes
1answer
55 views
Why can human voices sound like musicians' instruments? [closed]
We could represent any classical music using human voice. Why?
-3
votes
2answers
38 views
Bach 3G or Denis Wick 4.5AL for baritone?
I’ve got a Bb baritone that takes large shank mouthpieces. Should I get a 3g or 4.5al?
0
votes
1answer
52 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
156 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
58 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
194 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
80 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 ...
21
votes
10answers
5k 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
450 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
61 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
165 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
186 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
51 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
105 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
80 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
270 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
108 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
53 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
52 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
34 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
56 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
123 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
96 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
109 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
113 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
83 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
0answers
71 views
What is this Japanese bell instrument used on “Ryuichi Sakamoto - Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence”?
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
685 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
32 views
10
votes
2answers
173 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
24 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
594 views
What instrument is an “alto” string part in a score?
In the music score below, the bottom five parts seem to be string parts. We think the first two are violins, the last is string bass, and the second-last is cello. But what is the third-last? Is it a ...
5
votes
1answer
145 views
What's this instrument shown in 1-Nenokkadine?
In 1: Nenokkadine, there is a musical instrument shown prominently. Here is a snapshot of that instrument.
Link to that movie
This device plays some sort of piano ...
0
votes
1answer
158 views
After Apple nerfed GarageBand (10.3.2), how do you add or import other instrument libraries?
I noticed that GarageBand appears to have lost the ability to import other instruments or libraries. Is there a way to import third party instruments into GarageBand in 10.3? Along those lines, ...
20
votes
5answers
3k views
Why do lower pitched string instruments have a larger body?
I know that increasing the length of the string will decrease the pitch, but that doesn't explain why the body of a cello is larger than a violin, only longer.
What would be the "problem" with ...
2
votes
4answers
241 views
Can I produce music with code and without instruments?
I'm so curious about music, and I also tried to learn to play some instruments, but due to some personal reasons I can't continue with it. Now I'm a software developer, which is my passion, but my ...
0
votes
0answers
28 views
How do I keep my spit out of my harmonica? [duplicate]
I've been fooling with my new set of harmonicas, but I'm having trouble with them because they are filling up with spit. What can I do to prevent this problem?
0
votes
1answer
48 views
Find the proper sound / instrument for background (layer)?
I'm currently trying to compose some dungeon synth song. I like them and most of the time they use (very) simple melodies, so I thought this would be a perfect way to practice and develop my skills.
...
2
votes
1answer
67 views
What is this rattle-like instrument seen from an Indian music festival?
I am wondering what instrument is this? It produces a sound like sands, and the performer seems to rotate the upper part of it to make sounds.
I also find it on an Indian music instrument ...
7
votes
4answers
926 views
How is speed change notated
This is a very beginner question as I am a complete beginner. How is change in speed during a song notated in standard notation? Is it done by changing the time signature for each measure that has a ...
2
votes
1answer
220 views
Realistic jazzy sound with VST
I've been quite impressed with the orchestral sound of Nina Simone's "I put a spell on you". The part which interested me can be heard at first 17 seconds. So is it possible to simulate such warm and ...
7
votes
1answer
180 views
Why can a vuvuzela only play one pitch, while a non-valved bugle can play many?
According to our collective nightmares from the 2010 World Cup Wikipedia, the vuvuzela is a monotone instrument; it famously plays (roughly) the B♭ below middle C.
Why is the vuvuzela restricted to ...
2
votes
3answers
234 views
Mnemonic or memory aid for Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Marimba, and Vibraphone
I am a choral director who has been transplanted to concert band. I know the differences between the percussion keyboards in theory, but in practice I still need to do an internet search to remember ...
3
votes
2answers
334 views
How much louder than an upright is a small grand piano?
I now have a kawai upright (height 135cm) and I'd like to upgrade to a small grand piano (around 170 cm I think). I'm wondering how much louder it will be. I don't really need a louder piano, my ...
3
votes
1answer
50 views
Tubulum Construction: How does including elbows affect the pitch?
I am considering building a tubulum out of 2" PVC pipes. (Like Blue Man Group) There are some specs on the internet for making the notes, but no one really says when inserting an elbow into the length,...
