A Kora! It’s an African instrument that is considered a guitar harp, with 21 strings ranging from the size of bass guitar string to fishing wire. The way it is played allows you to play the bass, lead, and rhythm at the same time. Here is a short example of a master kora player Toumani Diabate showcasing the instrument: youtu.be/8luhdxS2KuM?si=llpa2YVyIOf77_Nd
As a guitarist I found this guy who transcribed Toumani’s work onto a classical guitar, very interesting listen m.youtube.com/watch?v=55QnOlXckOk
My other thing would be trippy out there instruments that seem to put you in a different state of mind like the Yaybahar or “The Beam” that the grateful dead likes to break out sometimes
one of my friends rents one and played a few pieces for me. it was like existing outside of the rest of space and time. he’s really good at it and it just sounds magical
I’m curious if you’ve ever held a guitar, or touched one as it was played? Acoustic guitars, especially when playing on the lower strings, vibrate quite a lot, sometimes it feels like a purring cat.
I really appreciate strings in general, but no instrument can emotionally move me like the violin. A melancholic violin section in an already sad song is a surefire way to make me tear up. I’ve never been very good at playing any instrument, but I’ve been tempted to pick up the violin to see if it feels as good to play as it does to hear.
A large Casavant. Any pipe organ really, but a large one with tones below the human hearing threshold really hit hard in person. They give me nonstop frisson. Almost can’t handle it, and tears stream down my face the whole time, but not from sadness; just a physiological reaction.
Most instruments played well grips my heart and holds. But steelpan. People see it as something carnival something something, but it fits well for a surprisingly wide span of music! The power of the bass pans in death metal as much as the “synthiness” in a melody from some NES game, it fits!
The french horn gets me in the feels every time. I think it’s because it reminds me of dressing up fancy and going to the symphony with my aunt as a school aged kid, as well as candle lit Christmas eve services that heavily featured them.
The french horn is the feelings guy in the horn section. The trumpet is often used to shout the main idea at the audience, and then the french horn lays back on the couch and tells us how that makes him feel.
As a musician the Monome Norns raspberry pi shield and lines community has been inspiring me a lot lately. It’s a FOSS “sound computer” that can take on hundreds of uses.
Add comment