Even if you have never played a musical instrument, you probably know tons of common instruments and what sound they make. Everyone knows what a trumpet sounds like. If you hear a violin, you know it's a violin. This thread is to share really strange musical instruments. Post images or youtube videos of odd and obscure musical instruments that you find interesting. CRPG has a really diverse player base, so I hope some of you guys can provide info on cool folk instruments that originated where you live.
To get things started:
The bazantar. It is an upright bass mixed with a sitar. Sitars have small strings behind the main ones you actually pluck. The bazantar is a bass that has sympathetic strings like that. Wonderful drone chords to accompany the notes you are actually playing. It almost sounds like a regular bass passed through some really strange digital filter.
The hurdy gurdy is basically what would happen if a violin and accordion had a baby. Instead of plucking the strings, you turn a crank and use keys on the side of the instrument to play specific notes. It also has a really funny name.
And here's a group of gamelan players. The gamelan is from southeast Asia. It's played similarly to a xylophone or marimba - you strike blocks of metal with a mallet play each note. There's something about the timbre and chord progression of gamelan music that makes my hair stand up on the back of my neck. It just sounds spooky and ominous. Visions of demons and ghosts from the far east...
I've got more to post soon, but I'm excited to see what you have to share.
