Gu Zheng Music Video

Finding quality music is a challenge, especially that which uses instruments out of the ordinary. It’s tough enough finding good music in general, but finding good songs with original instrumentation is usually just asking too much.

Not only does this song feature the amazing, nearly mystical sound of the Chinese gu zheng, but the video is truly creative as well, sure to entertain music-lovers all the world over. After the video Click Here to check out the yangqin, another Chinese string instrument.

Mbira Music of Zimbabwe

Perhaps the greatest musical contribution to come from Southeastern Africa, the mbira is an ancient instrument traditionally played during the religious ceremonies and social gatherings of the Shona people. There are dozens of different “thumb pianos” found throughout Africa and other parts of the world, and it is believed that the mbira predates them all.

To amplify the sound, the mbira is often set inside a resonating chamber, usually a hollowed gourd, and to this gourd are typically attached sea shells or bottle caps to produce a certain ringing sound when the mbira is played. This unique quality is considered most important, as this ringing sound is said to invoke the spirits during ceremonies and gatherings.

After this video, Click Here to see what Hugh Tracey created when he got back from his travels to Africa, with the influence of instruments like the mbira in mind.

Chapman Stick Instrumental Demo

What makes the Chapman Stick a unique musical instrument is not that it produces any kind of original sound, but that it plays the part of two different instruments at once. The Stick, as it is commonly referred to by its players, comes with anywhere from eight to twelve strings, but most typically with ten… six for the part of the guitar and four for the bass.

Unlike either the guitar or bass, the Stick is designed to be played not by strumming or plucking but by hammering notes on the fretboard, so both hands may be involved in playing notes and the two parts may be played simultaneously.

After watching the video, Click Here to check out another string instrument.

Japanese Shamisen Solo

The sound of the shamisen is unmistakable, and certainly characteristic of Japanese music. This 3 string instrument is typically played by sliding up and down the fretless neck while hitting the strings, as well as thumping the skin-covered body, with a large plectrum called a bachi.

Not many string instruments can be considered percussion as well, and that’s just another thing that makes the shamisen so special and unique. Enjoy the video below, then Click Here to check out another Eastern string instrument.

Dante Bucci hang drum

Another video of Dante Bucci on the hang, the steel hand drum of Switzerland. If you are at all familiar with the hang, you know all about how difficult it is to get your hands on one of these.

Being only a few years old, the hang, or hang drum as it is commonly called, is still made by just the two original creators, and as of the date of posting, they have taken a break from production for an indefinite period of time. With only a few thousand in existence, good luck coming across one! Maybe someday…

Until then, enjoy the amazing music of the hang in the video below, then Click Here and see what Manu Delago does with the hang.