The hang is known for tearing off incredible percussion solos, but in this video you can see how versatile it is, playing here alongside the Celtic harp. In this video, imagine the people on the other side of the park, beyond the trees in the background, how they must have felt when they heard this music?

How sweet would that be, to just be walking along and then this amazing tune begins to play from somewhere in the distance. Seems we should hear more of the hang throughout all of music. In a video posted a couple weeks ago, the hang can also be seen alongside the Native American flute, so you can Click Here to see more of what this music instrument can do.

Like many ethnic instruments of eastern Asia, the hulusi is a free reed wind instrument which is played throughout China. Made of 3 bamboo pipes and a gourd wind chest, the hulusi in this video is played by Vladiswar Nadishana, musician from Siberia who plays on more than 100 instruments from all around the world to create his unique blend of music. On percussion is Steve Shehan who has been playing with Nadishana for years. After the video Click Here to see another instrumental world video.

Usually played in a group with many drummers, the taiko does not often find itself alongside a string instrument.  But if this video is any indication, perhaps the two should be played together a little more often.

Typically an ensemble with many drummers each playing one drum, the taiko always makes for a performance of immense power.  Now in this case the drummer stands behind an entire set of taiko drums and lays down the rhythm for the shamisen.

After the video Click Here to see more instrumental music.

A couple months ago I got an email from a guitarist interested in the tongue drum. Turns out Detman plays music for his church and wanted to have the drum to share with his friends and family. Of course I was happy to oblige, and it’s great to see that they’re having as much fun playing the drum as I had making it.

Here’s a video of Detman’s friends gathered around the tongue drum. Keep dishing out the beats, we love it!! After the video Click Here to check out the hang, metallic cousin of the tongue drum.

When it comes to making music using unusual instruments, John Pascuzzi is the man! In this video Pascuzzi brings together the hang, didgeridoo, hapi drum, and Tuvan igil for a sound unlike any other.

After the video Click Here to check out another world instrumental performance.

Sometimes music is made from finely tuned instruments, other times it is thrown together using scraps just found throughout the house. The latter method is the one preferred by instrument maker Diego Stocco.

A truly unique creation, the Bassoforte is the product of scraps from an electric bass, pickups from an old guitar, a cabinet handle and of course, a chimney cap. Amazingly, Diego Stocco finds a way to make some remarkable music from a pile of junk. Brilliant!! After the video Click Here to check out the Shamisen, string instrument of Japan.

Originating in Africa, the kalimba traces its roots back to the ancient musical instrument of Zimbabwe called the mbira. Through the ages, perhaps no other instrument has gone through as much of an evolution as the kalimba. Today, many kalimbas are made with electronic pickups so they can be played alongside drums and other electric instruments.

This video here shows KalimbaMan Kevin Spears getting loose on his electric kalimba, with a whole host of loops and effects. Enjoy! After the video Click Here to check out the mbira, grandfather of the kalimba.

Of all the unusual instruments, the tongue drum is undoubtedly my favorite. Of course, I’m a little bit biased since this happens to be an instrument I make myself… But really the tongue drum is so much fun to play, and also to make.

I’m still learning to play it, but this drum is a blast! Here’s a little something that’s been ringing through my head lately. After the video Click Here to see another tongue drum video.

Another video performance of the array mbira, this time the song is the traditional English ballad, Scarborough Fair. After the video, Click Here to check out another unusual instrument.

When it comes to music, surely it is the hang that is the greatest invention of the century to date. Being that there are only a few thousand of these lap-sized metal discs making their way around the world, it is always remarkable seeing them in the hands of two quality musicians at once. Not that the hang isn’t amazing by itself, but with twice as many hands for melody and rhythm, the variety is just that much greater.

After the video, Click Here to check out what the hang sounds like next to the Native American flute as played by Jeff B