Musical Instruments

According to Moongold.me.uk, the tung, tongue or slit drum is a traditional African musical instrument usually made out of a log with a slit in it, which is hit with mallets to produce a tone. The...

Having an out of tune guitar while on the go can be a very frustrating thing if a tuner is not nearby. Being a guitarist for the past several years, I know that all too well. So I am going to...

Sample CDs are chock-full of sounds that an innovative music producer can use to his advantage. Having a software sampler or sound module makes using these sounds simple. Just pop the CD into the...

Creating your own music can be a fun, rewarding experience. Even if you've never played an instrument, you can still compose and play music electronically. The Nintendo Game Boy, for example, can...

Laptops dominate DJ booths around the world. Many DJs perform without turntables and often without CD decks. The computer adds a new dimension to the art form, turning DJs into true musical...

Whether you're a violin beginner, pro or somewhere in between, getting a brand new bow is exciting. It looks wonderful and you can't wait to hear how good it will make the violin sound. But of...

Selecting an acoustic guitar for you child or yourself to begin guitar lessons can be a daunting task after seeing all of those guitars hanging on the walls of a music store! Where do you begin? ...

Vacuum tubes are used in some guitar amplifiers, and these are preferred over transistor based amps by many musicians because of their "warm" sound. This sound is produced by the distortion...

Distortion is an important part of the rock guitar sound. It is used in every rock genre from classic rock to heavy metal. The type and amount of distortion you want depends on the type of music...

Tone is that ever so elusive sound of an instrument that many bass players longingly search for or build their entire career around. Different elements combine to create tone, such as the bass'...

The word "embouchure" refers to the way the mouth is used to produce a sound on a musical instrument. Embouchure itself actually should be considered an instrument because without it the musical...

The first thing that must be developed when learning to play an instrument is a pleasing sound. It doesn’t matter how good the technique is or anything else: If one plays with a bad sound, no one...

Standard drum sets include a snare drum, bass drum, cymbals and toms. A drum set's sound depends on the materials used.

Resonator guitars are unique-sounding instruments that use an aluminum, bowl-shaped cone under the bridge to increase the sounds of an acoustic guitar. First built in the 1920s, the resonator...

Sound is caused by vibrations. Just as organs within the mouth and throat vibrate to produce speech, or speakers vibrate as directed by electronic impulses to reproduce the sounds of recorded...

The sound you get from your saxophone is created by a combination of factors that all work together to produce widely varying tones. The style of music and sound you wish to achieve will determine...

Some rock guitarists, looking to add an acoustic guitar sound to their live repertoire, try plugging their acoustic into their electric amp, only to find that the sound is wrong. An electric...

The Alvarez 600T Mk II is an active guitar pickup and preamp system, available on select Alvarez acoustic-electric guitar models. A 9-volt battery powers the under-saddle piezo pickup and on-board...

Building a Celtic (wire strings) or folk (nylon strings) harp from scratch, using purchased blueprints, is a challenging but rewarding project for the advanced to experienced woodworker. ...

Guitarists looking to break out of a playing rut or find a new sound can do so by changing tuning. One of the most common alternate guitar tunings is Drop-D, where the low-E string is lowered one...

A sound module allows a musician to create tones and replicate instruments that would otherwise be impossible in a performance setting, such as strings, horns and synthesizers. Sound modules are...

The piston valve trombone is the most common type of valve trombone, though the valve trombone itself is an unusual instrument. The peculiarities of the valve trombone make it a challenging horn...

Large concert bands and orchestras often employ a woodwind ensemble to add an extra elements or layer to the sound they produce. Among these instruments, there is typically at least one clarinet...

Native flute making requires some familiarity and skill with basic hand tools. The concepts behind the construction are simple, but precision is necessary to ensure that your flute has a pleasant...

The trumpet is one of the most versatile instruments. Used in rock bands, orchestras and jazz ensembles, the trumpet is an enjoyable, interesting instrument to play. Kids can learn how to play the...

A synthesizer can produce a variety of output sounds with different audible characteristics by generating electrical signals which then pass through filters that manipulate the signals'...

One of the most peculiar instruments in the classical woodwind family, the bassoon is fascinating not only for its sound and construction, but for its history and development.

Drum manufacturers will consider several factors when choosing a species of wood for their shells. For entry-level drums, price is obviously a factor, and cheaper woods such as eucalyptus,...

You will learn how to turn your guitar and learn some useful tips!

Taps is a signature sounded at military funerals and at the end of a day. It is very simple and memorable, with a somber feel. Most players choose to use a bugle to sound taps, though a trumpet...

The harmonica is a fun, simple instrument used in a variety of musical styles, ranging from rock and country to blues and folk. The harmonica is easy for a beginner to pick up and make sound...

In the 1880s, a Russian nobleman named Vassili Andreyev heard a peasant outside his window playing the balalaika, a lute derived from a Mongol predecessor called the domra. According to the...

Music shares similar principles with science, from a purely logical point of view. Creativity and artistic endeavors come from the right brain, while logic, mathematics and scientific views are...

You can give your guitar a unique sound by connecting it to a guitar amplifier. A guitar amplifier is an electric device that makes the sound of your guitar louder so other people can hear you...

Guitar rack effects are electronic sound modifying devices that can be installed in a standard 19-inch electronics rack. These offer a variety of benefits over guitar effects pedals, including...

Any instrument that produces sound from having air blown into it can be considered a wind instrument. The second-oldest instrument type, preceded only by those of the drum category, basic wind...

Guitar amps, or guitar amplifiers, are used to increase, alter or dramatize the sound of a guitar. They come in a variety of sizes, intensities and variations, and are often used in combination...

MIDI, which stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, has been the standard way for electronic musical instruments to communicate with one another for over 25 years. Introduced to the...

An acoustic piano is probably what you think of when you think of a piano. Its sound is created by an extensive internal network of hammers, strings and keys. A digital piano is an electronic...

Certain drumheads are more likely to give a drum a certain sound. Selecting the right drum heads are essential to getting the sound you want from your drums. In a few steps, you'll have the...

Cymbals! They take the bulk of the playing and they're the colors on your palette. Cymbals are just important to your sound as the drums themselves. In a few steps, you'll have the knowledge to...

The French Horn (more accurately known as simply the "horn") is a curly, bell-backwards member of the classical brass family that occupies a unique place in orchestral voicing due to its unusually...

Music has been an integral part of culture since man first walked on this planet. It has been used to share stories, pass down knowledge and to entertain. As early as 6,000 B.C., people were...

Digital pianos are perfect for playing Beethoven when everyone is sleeping. And not to mention you never have to tune it when you move. However, they are many differences among the quality of...

Death metal is a variation of heavy metal music that revolves around dark themes such as death, war and the occult. It is characterized by low-tuned guitars, fast drumming and guttural vocals that...

When buying a natural piano, looking for a used instrument is an ideal way to get a good value. However, used pianos, like other high-value used items, can be ripoff if they're too worn or damaged...

Guitar pedals, or effects pedals, are as diverse and popular as the guitar itself. Although numerous effects are available to modify or enhance sound, they can be put into several categories of...

An electric guitar is played the same way that an acoustic guitar is played, although the sound of an electric guitar is produced with pickups. Find out how the sound on an electric guitar can be...

Hitting low notes on the French horn requires manipulation of the lips in the mouthpiece and changing the way the lips vibrate to produce a different sound. Find out how to make a lower sound on...