by Dean Salant

10 of the weirdest instruments of all time

Some musicians are content working with familiar, time-tested instruments that deliver predictable but reliable results. Others, however, push beyond convention. They seek to make sounds that could never have been heard before. Over time, musicians and instrument makers have experimented with new materials and designs that sometimes lead to groundbreaking inventions, and sometimes make oddities that push the boundaries of what we consider music to be.

These weird instruments challenge our way of thinking about music-making. Some have found their way into mainstream music, but others remain niche curiosities that are waiting to be explored by adventurous composers and music producers.

In this article, we’re diving into ten of the weirdest instruments ever created. Some are steeped in tradition, and others are futuristic experiments. All of them show how far musicians will go in the pursuit of new sounds.

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Creating weird instruments: musicians as innovators

The need for new sounds is a constant in music. As genres evolve, we as artists and producers look for fresh ways to capture our artistic visions. Sometimes, we simply want to surprise our audiences. That’s why we can spend hours creating the perfect synth patch, why orchestral composers experiment with extended techniques, and why some experimental musicians build custom instruments from scratch.

Some of the most famous innovations in music history started as strange, niche ideas. The electric guitar, the synthesizer, and the drum machine were once considered radical departures from traditional instruments. Today, they define entire genres.

Let’s take a look at some of the most unique instruments of all time.

1. Klavins Una Corda 88

“Just think of guitars. There’s small guitars, big guitars, some with six strings, some with twelve. There are all kinds of different guitars, for example. But in the world of piano… there’s pretty much only one type of piano, and they’re all very comparable,” says neo-classical experimentalist Nils Frahm.

He and David Klavins decided to rethink everything to do with piano construction. They wanted to build something unique that could stretch the idea of playing piano. The Una Corda is a unique piano with only one string per key instead of the usual two or three. This gives it a softer, more intimate sound that blends beautifully with ambient and cinematic music.

Because of its “out-of-the-box” design, the Una Corda responds differently to dynamics, allowing for delicate nuances and an almost harp-like resonance. It’s become a favorite among modern composers looking for something outside the standard piano timbre.

2. Stylophone

The stylophone first appeared in 1967, and gained mainstream attention a few years later when David Bowie used it on “Space Oddity”. In recent years, this little stylus-operated keyboard instrument has gone viral all over the internet.

Its buzzy, lo-fi tone gives it a retro-futuristic sound, and its small frame makes it very portable. Despite its simplicity, this instrument has found a cult following, proving that even small, weird instruments can leave a big impact.

Listen to it from 0:33 on “Space Oddity”:

3. Tsuri-daiko

The tsuri-daiko isn’t “weird” in the sense of being unconventional like other instruments on this list. It’s a deeply traditional instrument with a long history in Japanese court music. But its size, intricate craftsmanship, and commanding presence make it stand out, earning it a well-deserved place on this list.

A staple of traditional Japanese bugaku (court dance music), the tsuri-daiko is a massive drum suspended on a wooden frame. Unlike Western bass drums, which are struck aggressively, this one is played with softer controlled strokes. The result is a deep, meditative tone.

The tsuri-daiko can be heard in Japanese imperial ceremonies and historical performances:

You can use the sound of the tsuri-daiko in your own productions with Spotlight Collection: East Asia, which is included in Komplete 15 Ultimate.

4. Slapaphone

If you’ve ever tapped on the open ends of PVC pipes and heard a deep, resonant tone, you already understand how the slapaphone works. This instrument is made of tuned plastic tubes and is played with paddles.

Similar to boomwhackers but larger and more dynamic, the slapaphone has been used by experimental musicians and street performers

You can hear the slapaphone at the beginning of this video:

5. Aquarion

A rare and mesmerizing instrument, the aquarion uses glass as a sound source to make its hypnotic sounds.

Notes on the aquarion feel organic and have a “water-like” resonance. It’s been used in experimental and ambient music because of its gentle textures.

You can listen to the aquarion’s calming tone in this performance:

6. Euphonic array

The euphonic array is a friction-activated instrument that is made of aluminium and stainless steel. Similar to resonant wine glasses, this instrument makes sounds through touch with wet hands.

It only has nine notes, but its timbre makes up for its lack of range.

Listen to this rendition of “Gnossienne no. 1” on the euphonic array:

7. Theremin

The theremin might be the most famous and celebrated weird instrument. It’s played without touch and responds to the movement of the player’s hands around two metal antennas which control pitch and volume.

You’ve almost certainly heard this one on classic sci-fi soundtracks and off-kilter experimental works.

Check out “Clair de Lune”, reimagined on the theremin:

8. Marble machine

Built by the Swedish band Wintergatan, the marble machine is a hand-cranked, mechanical music box that uses thousands of rolling marbles to trigger percussion, bass, and melody lines. It looks like something out of a steampunk film.

This video of Wintergatan playing the instrument went viral a few years ago:

9. Houseplants

If you’re wondering “What is the weirdest instrument ever?”, and the list hasn’t quite satisfied you so far… well, this might be your answer.

One of the strangest developments in modern music technology allows houseplants to make music. Using sensors that detect bioelectric signals, software translates plant activity into MIDI data, triggering synthesizers or sample-based instruments.

While this isn’t technically an instrument, as it triggers MIDI rather than producing actual sound, we couldn’t resist including it on this list.

Listen to a house plant making music:

10. The modular synthesizer

Nowadays modular synthesizers aren’t considered weird at all. They’ve firmly found their way into the mainstream, and for good reason. But when it was introduced, it was certainly considered to be one of the weirdest instruments ever made.

Modular synths have been a staple in electronic music since the 1960s, and they continue to push the boundaries of sound design today.

If you’d like to try your hand at modular synthesis, you can experience it on your computer through the powerful digital signal processing in Reaktor.

James Blake used modular synthesis all over his album “Playing Robots Into Heaven.”

Make music with weird instruments

These weird instruments prove that creativity knows no bounds. If you want to experiment with wild, unheard-of sounds in your own music, Komplete 15 gives you access to a universe of unique textures, tones, and sampled instruments – including some that were featured on this list, and more.

Try Kontakt for meticulously sampled instruments or experiment with Massive X or Reaktor for futuristic synthesis. Who knows? Maybe the next weird instrument to make history will come from your DAW.

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