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<h2>IMPORTED REVISION FROM WIKISPACES</h2>
Many kinds of musical instruments can be used to play [[microtonal music]], ranging from non-microtonal instruments (i.e. designed to be played in [[12edo]]) to custom-designed xenharmonic instruments.
This is an imported revision from Wikispaces. The revision metadata is included below for reference:<br>
: This revision was by author [[User:hstraub|hstraub]] and made on <tt>2007-06-21 06:36:51 UTC</tt>.<br>
: The original revision id was <tt>5376335</tt>.<br>
: The revision comment was: <tt></tt><br>
The revision contents are below, presented both in the original Wikispaces Wikitext format, and in HTML exactly as Wikispaces rendered it.<br>
<h4>Original Wikitext content:</h4>
<div style="width:100%; max-height:400pt; overflow:auto; background-color:#f8f9fa; border: 1px solid #eaecf0; padding:0em"><pre style="margin:0px;border:none;background:none;word-wrap:break-word;white-space: pre-wrap ! important" class="old-revision-html">Information on how to get musical instruments to play microtonal music


* Strings
Fixed pitch instruments make it easier for musicians to play notes accurately and reliably, although they give access to a limited set of pitches. Many non-microtonal instruments can be played microtonally without any modification to the instrument by using extended techniques, such as microtonal fingerings on woodwinds. Non-microtonal instruments can also be modified, either temporarily or permanently; this includes notably nonstandard (open) tunings on string instruments and [[Guitar#Refretting|guitar refretting]]. Finally, new instruments can be created from scratch; many such custom-designed instruments can be found in the [[list of xenharmonic fixed pitch instruments]].
** fretted: [[microguitar|guitars]], banjo, mandolin, ukelele, balalaika, viol, sitar, etc.)
** (unfretted) [[Bowed Strings|violin etc.]], oud, harps, zithers, hammer dulcimers
* Brass: [[http://www.microtonaltrumpet.com/|Trumpet]], [[microtonal horn|Horn]], [[microtrombone|Trombone]] (duh!), [[microtonal tuba|Tuba]] (?)
* Woodwinds: [[microrecorder|Recorders]], Udderbots...?^, Slide Whistles+, [[microtonal clarinet|Clarinets]]
* Percussion
* Keyboards: Piano, Harpsichord, Organ, Clavichord
* Free Reeds: [[Harmonica]], Accordion, Melodica, etc.
* [[http://www.microtonal-synthesis.com/|Synthesizers]]


^Jacob, why haven't you included a guide to udderbot writing here?
Continuous pitch instruments give access to a wider range of pitches, but often require more skill to be played accurately and reliably. The human voice falls in this category, along with other standard instruments such as [[bowed strings]] and [[trombone]]s. Some extended techniques allow for continuous pitch adjustments, even on fixed pitch instruments, such as [[Wikipedia:String bending|string bending]] on guitars and lip bending on wind instruments like [[trumpet]]s and saxophones. Several custom instruments also fall in this category, including the [[udderbot]] and the [[Infinitone]].


+Slide whistles are available with at least 2.5 octave ranges. Procure one, and attach a dowel or ruler to the side of it in a way that does not interfere with the slide action. Marks or tapes may then be placed on the dowel, and the doubled back end of the slide can be moved using the tapes for guides. In order to see what you're playing, I recommend stretching a length of flexible plastic tube from the mouthpiece of the slide. Because the slide whistle has a recorder-like mouthpiece and it doesn't really matter whether your lips are on it or not as long as an airtight seal is formed, you can use this device to move your head wherever it's comfortable.</pre></div>
The following is a non-exhaustive list of instruments which can be used to play xenharmonic music. You can find additional information by following the links to each instrument's dedicated page.
<h4>Original HTML content:</h4>
 
<div style="width:100%; max-height:400pt; overflow:auto; background-color:#f8f9fa; border: 1px solid #eaecf0; padding:0em"><pre style="margin:0px;border:none;background:none;word-wrap:break-word;width:200%;white-space: pre-wrap ! important" class="old-revision-html">&lt;html&gt;&lt;head&gt;&lt;title&gt;MicrotonalInstruments&lt;/title&gt;&lt;/head&gt;&lt;body&gt;Information on how to get musical instruments to play microtonal music&lt;br /&gt;
== Winds ==
&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Bassoon]]
&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Strings&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;fretted: &lt;a class="wiki_link" href="/microguitar"&gt;guitars&lt;/a&gt;, banjo, mandolin, ukelele, balalaika, viol, sitar, etc.)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;(unfretted) &lt;a class="wiki_link" href="/Bowed%20Strings"&gt;violin etc.&lt;/a&gt;, oud, harps, zithers, hammer dulcimers&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Brass: &lt;a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://www.microtonaltrumpet.com/" rel="nofollow"&gt;Trumpet&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a class="wiki_link" href="/microtonal%20horn"&gt;Horn&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a class="wiki_link" href="/microtrombone"&gt;Trombone&lt;/a&gt; (duh!), &lt;a class="wiki_link" href="/microtonal%20tuba"&gt;Tuba&lt;/a&gt; (?)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Woodwinds: &lt;a class="wiki_link" href="/microrecorder"&gt;Recorders&lt;/a&gt;, Udderbots...?^, Slide Whistles+, &lt;a class="wiki_link" href="/microtonal%20clarinet"&gt;Clarinets&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Percussion&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Keyboards: Piano, Harpsichord, Organ, Clavichord&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Free Reeds: &lt;a class="wiki_link" href="/Harmonica"&gt;Harmonica&lt;/a&gt;, Accordion, Melodica, etc.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://www.microtonal-synthesis.com/" rel="nofollow"&gt;Synthesizers&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Clarinet]]
^Jacob, why haven't you included a guide to udderbot writing here?&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Flugelhorn]]
&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Flute]]
+Slide whistles are available with at least 2.5 octave ranges. Procure one, and attach a dowel or ruler to the side of it in a way that does not interfere with the slide action. Marks or tapes may then be placed on the dowel, and the doubled back end of the slide can be moved using the tapes for guides. In order to see what you're playing, I recommend stretching a length of flexible plastic tube from the mouthpiece of the slide. Because the slide whistle has a recorder-like mouthpiece and it doesn't really matter whether your lips are on it or not as long as an airtight seal is formed, you can use this device to move your head wherever it's comfortable.&lt;/body&gt;&lt;/html&gt;</pre></div>
* [[Fretless saxophone]]
* [[Harmonica]]
* [[Horn]]
* [[Infinitone]]
* [[Recorder]]
* [[Saxophone]]
* [[Shakuhachi]]
* [[Trombone]]
* [[Trumpet]]
* [[Tuba]]
* [[Udderbot]]
* [[Whistle]]
 
== Percussion ==
* [[Bells]]
* [[Conic Bellophone in 96edo|Conic bellophone]]
* [[Daxophone]]
* [[Kalimba]]
* [[Marimba]]
* [[Tubulong]]
 
== Keyboards ==
{{Main| Keyboard }}
 
* [[Fluid piano]]
* [[Piano]]
 
== Strings ==
* [[Autoharp]]
* [[Bowed strings]]
* [[Electric bass]]
* [[Guitar]]
* [[Harp]]
* [[Harpejji]]
* [[Pedal steel guitar]]
* [[Qanun]]
* [[Ukulele]]
 
== See also ==
* [[List of xenharmonic fixed pitch instruments]]
* [[:Category:Instruments]]
 
== Further reading ==
* Hugh Davies/Alexander Bonus, [https://archive.org/details/grovedictionaryo0003unse_w4m2/page/459/ Microtonal instruments]. The Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments, Second Edition, 2014. Volume Three, page 459.
* [https://archive.org/details/emi_archive/ Experimental Musical Instruments] journal
* Fletcher and Rossing, [https://csclub.uwaterloo.ca/~pbarfuss/The_Physics_of_Musical_Instruments.pdf The Physics of Musical Instruments]. Springer-Verlag, 1991
 
[[Category:Instruments| ]]

Latest revision as of 06:57, 7 September 2026

Many kinds of musical instruments can be used to play microtonal music, ranging from non-microtonal instruments (i.e. designed to be played in 12edo) to custom-designed xenharmonic instruments.

Fixed pitch instruments make it easier for musicians to play notes accurately and reliably, although they give access to a limited set of pitches. Many non-microtonal instruments can be played microtonally without any modification to the instrument by using extended techniques, such as microtonal fingerings on woodwinds. Non-microtonal instruments can also be modified, either temporarily or permanently; this includes notably nonstandard (open) tunings on string instruments and guitar refretting. Finally, new instruments can be created from scratch; many such custom-designed instruments can be found in the list of xenharmonic fixed pitch instruments.

Continuous pitch instruments give access to a wider range of pitches, but often require more skill to be played accurately and reliably. The human voice falls in this category, along with other standard instruments such as bowed strings and trombones. Some extended techniques allow for continuous pitch adjustments, even on fixed pitch instruments, such as string bending on guitars and lip bending on wind instruments like trumpets and saxophones. Several custom instruments also fall in this category, including the udderbot and the Infinitone.

The following is a non-exhaustive list of instruments which can be used to play xenharmonic music. You can find additional information by following the links to each instrument's dedicated page.

Winds

Percussion

Keyboards

Main article: Keyboard

Strings

See also

Further reading

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