Ken Butler’s “hybrid instruments” - Axe, crossbow, and assault rifle violins? Shovel tablas, easel guitars, umbrella igils, and toothbrush violas? Oh my! Watch Ken put a mic in his mouth and play his entire face!

Instrument ridiculousness!

From Ganesh and Fingerworks.

The hurdy gurdy, also known as the “wheel fiddle,” is similar to the nyckelharpa in that it’s notes are summoned using a keyboard which controls tangents (wood wedges) that depress the strings at defined intervals. What is most interesting about this violin-type instrument is that the strings are vibrated by a resin wheel mechanism [...]

This particular harp is owned by Avi, a master flute maker and musician.
“Harps of Lorien is a co-operative business with a mission to provide quality hand-crafted instruments for healing. These instruments are blessed and prayed over in the making, sanding, and finishing. It is in this phase that the beauty and grain of the wood [...]

The nyckelharpa, meaning “key harp,” is a traditional Swedish instrument. The first clues of this instruments existence are from 14th century European relief sculptures. The nyckelharpa is classified as a bowed string instrument. It is played in much of the same way a violinists plays a violin with the exception of [...]

Another wonderful homemade instrument from Ranjit on vimeo. The pitch of the note is controlled by a solenoid motor which changes the tension of the wire as it is strummed by an automatic strummer. Check out Ranjit’s actual website at moonmilk.com