Questions tagged [instruments]

For questions about generalities about instruments or groups of instruments.

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8 answers
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Do chords sound good only on specific instruments?

Whenever I search on the internet for chords, google spits out things such as "guitar chords" or "best chords for piano". But isn't it that such chords would be good for any ...
reign's user avatar
  • 79
4 votes
2 answers
336 views

What is the earliest we know wire-strung instruments to have existed?

What is the earliest we know wire-strung instruments to have existed? I was reading about gut strings, nylon strings, wire strings used on guitar, and wanted to know, but couldn't find the answer ...
Noah J's user avatar
  • 185
2 votes
1 answer
83 views

Alto Sax producing octave notes without using key, won't play lower notes without tilting down

I bought my daughter a new saxophone last year, and she barely used it- ended up with a school loaner because she says it's "defective". The horn plays fine, but for lower notes it will ...
SaxyMomma37's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
103 views

Easiest brass instrument to transpose with?

my real goal is to pick a brass instrument to pick up, but I don't know the right words to research what I want. I have a strong ear, so certain instruments are easier than others for me. So one ...
Jeremiah Gelb's user avatar
13 votes
6 answers
2k views

What "things" can you notice on the piano that you can't on the harpsichord, after playing the same piece on both?

Referring to Bach's Prelude and Fugue in C minor BWV 847, Masato Suzuki remarked at 1:37, as translated from Japanese to English I also like to play it on the piano. When playing it on the piano I ...
user avatar
-4 votes
3 answers
131 views

Which instrument is the easiest to produce the shortest and yet loud note? [closed]

It strikes me that it is not so easy to produce very short notes - like thirty seconds and sixty fourths - on the wood winds (it is merely my guess, I don't know for sure). Perhaps, it has to do with ...
brilliant's user avatar
  • 937
0 votes
1 answer
161 views

Help me find this "new" musical instrument, maybe invented in the 70s [closed]

The question was closed by an admin. I didn't find precisely what I was looking for, but I found this really cool instrument called Exquis which allows for what I'm talking about, to make scales ...
user1886458's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
53 views

What instrument is used in the background? [closed]

What instrument is being used to create the soft "pulsating" background noise in this video. It almost sounds like some sort of strings but I am not sure. For example, between timestamp 37s ...
7R1X's user avatar
  • 11
4 votes
1 answer
205 views

Magic Bells in The Firebird

Is a campanelli the same instruments as a glockenspiel? Although a literal translation of campanelli (It.) is something like "little bells", I thought that campanelli in an instrumentaion ...
Elements in Space's user avatar
5 votes
4 answers
588 views

Why don't all transposing instruments have transposing clefs?

Is there a reason for which some transposing instruments (say, horns in F, bass clarinets etc.) don't have transposing clefs? For some instruments it's not odd to have them, e.g. tenor voice always ...
Alex Kowal's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
97 views

12 string guitar stringing

Most commonly, 12 string guitars have their bottom four pairs arranged so that when strumming down, the octave strings sound before the original E A D and G. Is there any particular reason for this? ...
Tim's user avatar
  • 188k
0 votes
0 answers
97 views

Can anyone explain these unexpected overtones on my NUX electric piano?

I recently purchased a NUX NPK-10 electric piano, as a step up from a Yamaha keyboard. I love the instrument, and I'm enjoying playing it. However I have noticed a bizarre effect that I cannot explain....
Jon Kiparsky's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
214 views

Are there advanced high-quality violins like Strads with 4 fine tuners? Does any concerto virtuoso use 4 fine tuners? [duplicate]

Are there advanced high-quality violins with 4 fine tuners? (like Stradivarius.) Are there advanced violin concerto virtuosos players using violins with 4 fine tuners? Below are some related ...
wonderich's user avatar
  • 903
1 vote
11 answers
1k views

Possible list of motivations for playing an instrument (by hand) [closed]

Given that nowadays people can compose and play via a mobile phone or computer, what could or would some possible reasons for wanting to be able to play an instrument by hand be? Can't you just try ...
Joselin Jocklingson's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
308 views

Diatonic harmonica: How to play the draw bend with the three semitones down (effectively)?

For the diatonic harmonica, in the 3rd draw position B, how to play the draw bend with the three semitones down (marked in blue rectangle) B, Bb, A? I could play a semitones down, most easily in the ...
wonderich's user avatar
  • 903
1 vote
1 answer
111 views

What is a "bass xylophone"?

In the instrumentation of the opera Turandot there is something called bass xylophone, but I couldn't find many things about it. What is it? And, since it doesn't seem to be a common instrument, how ...
Ergative Man's user avatar
9 votes
5 answers
4k views

Blondie's Heart of Glass shimmering cascade effect [closed]

There's a ethereal shimmering cascading effect in the background of Blondie's song "Heart of Glass" at around 0:35 minutes in (in E major) and also moments ...
D.R.'s user avatar
  • 448
1 vote
2 answers
308 views

Learning cello fingerings without owning one

Okay this is going to be a weird question but bear with me, I promise I'm not crazy. Let's say I really wanted to learn cello. Now due to the fact I am not currently able to rent/buy a cello, this ...
violetorigin's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
89 views

What is the name of this brass (most likely) instrument? [closed]

I'm not sure if this is considered an appropriate post, I hope it is but if not, my apologies. I've heard this distinct instrument a couple times. I'm not sure what it is but am really fond of it, and ...
John's user avatar
  • 19
5 votes
1 answer
313 views

What's the earliest known example of music written for an electronic instrument?

The other day I stumbled upon Joseph Schillinger's First Airphonic Suite, a 1929 orchestral suite that includes a part for theremin. Since this was written 10 years after the invention of the theremin,...
WiJaMa's user avatar
  • 161
-4 votes
1 answer
1k views

Can mayonnaise actually be a good instrument? [closed]

Everyone knows what one iconic scene from SpongeBob, where Patrick asks Squidward a question: Is mayonnaise an instrument? To which he responds: No, Patrick, mayonnaise is not an instrument. I've ...
Matto58's user avatar
  • 19
1 vote
0 answers
115 views

Did percussion instruments communicate spoken words in click languages?

There are a number of click languages in Africa where 'clicks' function as part of their language. It seems like it would be possible to communicate some words with percussion instruments (maybe a ...
nanotek's user avatar
  • 403
1 vote
3 answers
127 views

Can I start playing on this clarinet?

Me: no money at all and no experience with wind instruments. Goal: learn how to play clarinet and to read music. Found this "French-styled clarinet from URSS" for 40 dollars. Is it ...
Igor's user avatar
  • 11
3 votes
4 answers
780 views

Keyboard where each key has pitch bend? [closed]

Are there any keyboards where each key has touch sensitivity allowing for microtones and pitch bend with the fingers on individual keys? I think that would be a pretty cool instrument, but I only ...
Emil's user avatar
  • 637
-5 votes
1 answer
108 views

Fusion of western musical instruments [closed]

Western musical instruments Western musical instruments images Trumpet and Saxophone Harpeji Western musical instruments video Is it possible to design and construct western musical instruments as a ...
Prashant Akerkar's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
622 views

Why are band instruments built in flat keys?

Instruments in a military bands (and similar) are usually built in the keys of B-flat or E-flat. (Whether these instruments are treated as transposing instruments or not is irrelevant. The key that ...
Elements in Space's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
64 views

A Question about Avid Sibelius 2021 and Kontakt (.nki) instruments

Since Sibelius is just using a version of Kontakt in the background to play its own sounds, can I build Sibelius Soundsets that are based on nothing but the .nki files in my authorized Kontakt ...
William Andrew Hainline's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
463 views

What do you call this type of guitar?

Does anybody mind mentioning to me what this type of guitar is called? A pedal lap steel guitar maybe? ...
Neil Meyer's user avatar
  • 14.7k
0 votes
1 answer
122 views

Pocket instruments? [closed]

I’ve heard of the guitarlele, but they are about 1/4 the size of a normal guitar. I’m looking for some kind of guitar or other real instrument that would fit in a large pocket (no larger than 10 ...
Timothy Kanski's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
276 views

What are the key factors for any composer to select instrument for a song? [closed]

There are lots of instruments in all over the world every instrument have its different sound that could attach differently to the person`s emotion wondering how Music Composer think for selecting ...
Nisarg Desai's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
256 views

Why do snare players only have one drum?

In marching drum lines, like Blue Devils, it's common that there are some tenor drum players with 4-6 drums, but the snare players only have 1 drum. To me, that seems like a waste. Sure, more drums/...
klutt's user avatar
  • 1,418
8 votes
1 answer
546 views

Question about the abbreviation for 2 instruments in an orchestra score

I'm learning an orchestra score and I'm really new to that. I'm figuring out what instruments are included in this score, and I get most of them (correct me if there is any mistake). However, I'm ...
MusicalChicken's user avatar
0 votes
4 answers
710 views

Are Pianos and Electric Guitar Keys the same?

So I know that Pianos Keys are pretty simple to understand, yea? Like C1 is just the first time C comes up, but how does that relate to guitar? More specifically, F#5 on keyboard is easy to find, but ...
Punkalo's user avatar
  • 13
2 votes
2 answers
158 views

what does continuo mean?

In the sheet music for BWV1, "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" the last instrument is labeled as "continuo". What does that mean?
Neins's user avatar
  • 752
2 votes
1 answer
218 views

Unknown instrument named in "Ondine et le pêcheur" by Paul Dukas

(Image source) What is the instrument's name, I've searched it but I can't find it. It's in the score of Ondine et le pêcheur by Paul Dukas (c. 1884, unpublished).
Sanjai S's user avatar
  • 139
18 votes
3 answers
3k views

What is the correct name for this instrument?

I guess it's some type of trombone, but I can't find its correct name anywhere. P.S. If you're wondering, here's where I got this shot from:
RoyalGoose's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
427 views

Note designs on the 10 hole major diatonic harmonica [duplicate]

Here is the typical note design on 10 holes major diatonic harmonica in C major: I have a few questions: Why there is a G key in the 2nd draw and the 3rd blow? But it omits the F key? also omits the ...
wonderich's user avatar
  • 903
2 votes
1 answer
109 views

Drawing on Classical Guitar with Open Pore Finish

this might be a somewhat naive question, but I am curious if using some type of permanent marker to draw on a classical guitar with an open pore finish will cause any issues? I'd like to give it a go, ...
Rob Proctor's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
120 views

Need help identifying a guitar [closed]

I really like the sound and look of this classical acoustic. Can anyone help me identify it? Thank you!
connor449's user avatar
  • 145
2 votes
0 answers
199 views

Service Manual For Rodgers 770 [closed]

TLDR: Where can I find the service manual for the Rodgers Exeter 770 pipe organ? I am trying to repair a Rodgers Exeter 770 digital pipe organ, however, I do not have the service manual. I easily ...
Thoughtyness's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
584 views

Bass sine wave on an acoustic instrument

Is there an instrument that can produce a sub bass sine wave like tone, that also has a lot of volume? Something that would sound a bit like an 808 bass. I've listened to some contrabass type flutes ...
AvidListener's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
36 views

Hot rodding the fender 100 rumble [closed]

I am looking for information on replacing 12 bass driver with a very good quality driver and possibly Stiffening cabinet using acoustic foam. I plan on using other amplification. And or using fenders ...
Nasferatu's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
305 views

what are the sizes of the ocarinas

I have been trying to find the sizes for every ocarina (1C to 7C), width and height of the chamber .The only one I can find was because a youtube video. I am asking this because I want make my own ...
leontres's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
1k views

Why is the superbone not used more often?

I saw that there is an instrument known as the 'Superbone'. With the slide of a trombone and additional valves like a trumpet, you'd think you would have the best of both worlds. So why is this ...
AvidListener's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
112 views

Learning to play Guitar, but how can I find the right size for me?

I've already bought a basic Acoustic Guitar off Amazon, but it's uncomfortable to play. I know the correct positioning to hold the Guitar, its just instead of my right shoulder resting down in the ...
James's user avatar
  • 41
2 votes
1 answer
553 views

Is there a word or music term for when a singer is mimicing the instrument, like at the beginning of the song Dang Me by Roger Miller? [duplicate]

Title is self-explanatory. I'm asking if there is a word or musical term for when a singer is mimicking the sound of the instrument that's playing. An example of what I'm asking for is at the very ...
Cathy Massey's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
2k views

MuseScore 3: Play Different Instrument per Voice

Is it possible to play different Instrument per voice In MuseScore 3? How to do it?
joseluisbz's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
59 views

What is this instrument that is audible first in this Music video? [closed]

What is this instrument that is audible first in this Music video? is is like some flute?
Audrius M's user avatar
  • 111
1 vote
0 answers
62 views

Synthesizer suggestions? [closed]

I'm looking for an analog polyphonic synthesizer. I'm really torn between the Moog Matriarch and the David Smith Prophet Rev2. I've not owned a synth before and really want to branch into that world. ...
theorema.aureum's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
58 views

Soft-Question: Which music instrument(s) is in the background along with piano [closed]

Here is a relaxing piano music: What is the instrument played in the background of piano music? Noise like sound in low volume. Is this a drum?
Vinod's user avatar
  • 413

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