The unique instrument

Let’s talk about the unique instruments. I picked up the three instruments. First, the Contrabass balalaika. This is a Russian stringed musical instrument with a characteristic triangular wooden, hollow body, fretted neck, and three strings. Two strings are usually tuned to the same note and the third string is a perfect fourth higher. The higher-pitched balalaikas are used to play melodies and chords. The instrument generally has a short sustain, necessitating rapid strumming or plucking when it is used to play melodies. Balalaikas are often used for Russian folk music and dancing. Second, the Otamatone. This is an electronic musical synthesizer. Shaped like an eight note, the ribbon controller on its stem is used to control pitch, while the notes produced by the synthesizer are played from the Otamatone’s head. It was developed in Japan by the CUBE Works toy company and the Maywa Denki design firm, led by the brothers Masamichi and Novmichi Tosa, and is produced and marketed by Hamee. Third, the Steel tongue drum. It can be made from an empty, often 20-lb (9-kg) propane tank. The tank is flipped over and the base is cut or knocked off. Seven to ten tongues are then cut radially into the bottom of the tank, forming the top of the instrument. A steel tongue drum can also be made from a new unused tank head. The tongues can be tuned by the maker by varying the length of the cuts, or by adding weights, often neodymium magnets, to the tongues. Although steel tongue drums are often tuned to pentatonic scales, they can also be tuned to the diatonic scale, the chromatic scale, or any set of notes the maker chooses. The instrument is played with the fingers or with mallets. It boasts a pleasant, bell-like tone. These are interesting instruments !