Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange
Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [instruments]

For questions about generalities about instruments or groups of instruments.

Technical questions about an instrument, not how to play or practice it.

For example:

  • Why is a violin shaped the way it is?
  • Why can only a limited set of tones be bent on a harmonica?
  • How does the size of a mouthpiece relate to its name?
  • How does the type of wood used for a piano influence its sound?

Not:

  • How do I use a bow?
  • How do I bend a tone on the harmonica?
  • Which mouthpiece size is best for playing high tones?
  • What wood type is best for my home piano?
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Why aren't there attempts to evolve classical musical instruments so that they're easier to play?

Roughly speaking, it takes anywhere between 5 and 15 years to become proficient in one of the classical music instruments, making it a very difficult skill for most of us. But why not try and make music easier to play, similar to how cars evolved…
JonathanReez
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The loudest acoustic instrument

There are more than a hundred different acoustic instruments, some of which are very loud. What is the loudest acoustic instrument?
SovereignSun
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Music Store Etiquette

A music store that sells high end instruments is faced with a dilemma. It is their responsibility to sell you instruments. But you cannot buy an instrument without trying it out for some period of time. At the same time, the store has to draw the…
Joe
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What "things" can you notice on the piano that you can't on the harpsichord, after playing the same piece on both?

Referring to Bach's Prelude and Fugue in C minor BWV 847, Masato Suzuki remarked at 1:37, as translated from Japanese to English I also like to play it on the piano. When playing it on the piano I notice things [emphasis mine] I hadn't noticed on…
user92372
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An instrument needs two or more to play

What instrument requires two or more people to play it if such exists? I mean there is no way that one person can play it.
SovereignSun
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Which (apparently keyboard) instrument is this?

I discovered this image recently while reading about piano. I discovered this young Portuguese pianist photo, Vianna da Motta, while learning in his early stages. I assume this is some kind of keyboard instrument but its not clear and the format is…
nsn
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Why are Clavichords Keys Diagonally Shaped?

Why are the keys on clavichords (as shown below) not all parallel? In fact, only 1 or 2 of the keys go straight back, the others all bend diagonally and then go straight at the end. Why is this? I would assume it has something to do with how the…
Ryan
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What is the word to describe the "degrees of freedom" of an instrument?

E.g. a violin can be bowed, allowing a single note to have more changing character than a guitar. On the other hand, a guitar is more polyphonically capable than a violin. Contrast them both with a midi trigger that only plays a single sound, for a…
Andrew
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Acoustic pianos with weighted keys

I'm currently trying to build up my finger strength, and have found that the exercises I do are more effective if I am practising on a piano with a heavier touch, as the keys require more force to push down. Is it possible to buy pianos with the…
John Gowers
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What is the difference between a Bandoneon and an Accordion?

Astor Piazzolla was a famous bandoneon player. In his one cd, he says that people ask him why he plays the accordion and then he says he does not he plays the bandoneon. So what exactly is the difference between the two, are they related at all?
Neil Meyer
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How does the shape and size of a kazoo affect its tone?

I'm interested in making a bass kazoo (for obvious reasons). This is about the most scholarly article I've found on the internet about how these instruments work. Would a longer or wider resonating chamber have a lower pitch?
saltface
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Instruments that don't require hand strength

I am a vocalist and a guitarist, but I suffer from wrist problems, so if I want to ever heal from them, I have got to play music for a while without using my hands too much (as long as there is no hand strength or strong grip required, it's…
govanesque89
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Alternative ways to classify Instruments

In Western music there are four classifications of instruments strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. This classification works on most instruments, but there are many different instruments around the world and some cannot be put into these…
Dom
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Ambidextrous instruments

Looking at a recent question, my thoughts turned to instruments which can be played left- or right-handed, without alteration. Given that approx. 85% of us are right-handed, it's hardly surprising that most instruments are appropriately made.…
Tim
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What's this instrument shown in 1-Nenokkadine?

In 1: Nenokkadine, there is a musical instrument shown prominently. Here is a snapshot of that instrument. Link to that movie This device plays some sort of piano music. Is this a real musical instrument? If yes, then what is the name of it?
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