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Information on how to get musical instruments to play music in a variety of tunings.
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.


See also [[The_Great_Xenharmonic_Fixed-Pitch_Instrument_Database|The Great Xenharmonic Fixed-Pitch Instrument Database]] .
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]].


<ul><li>[[string_instruments|Strings]]
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]].


<ul><li>fretted: [[microguitar|guitars]], [[microbass|bass]], banjo, mandolin, [[Fun_With_Microtones|ukulele]], balalaika, viol, sitar, etc.</li><li>(unfretted) [[MicrotonalBowedStrings|violin etc.]], oud, [[qanun|qanun]], [[microbass|fretless bass]], harps, zithers, hammer dulcimers, dan bau</li><li>[[autoharp|autoharp]]</li><li>[[moodswinger|moodswinger]]</li><li>[http://chrisvaisvil.com/?p=789 Home Made Canon]</li><li>[http://bp.b0b.com/2012/11/sierra-pedal-steel/ pedal steel]</li><li>[http://chrisvaisvil.com/diy-temporary-cable-tie-guitar-frets-version-2/ Cable Tie Frets] - instruction and examples on using cable ties as frets on a defretted guitar</li></ul></li><li>[[microtonal_brass|Brass]]:
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.


<ul><li>[[microtonal_trumpet|Trumpet]], [[microtonal_horn|Horn]], [[microtrombone|Trombone]] (duh!), [[microtonal_tuba|Tuba]], digeridoo, alphorn</li><li>[http://bwhisperer.com/index bwhisperer.com] JI-oriented website, "The Brass Whisperer's main aim is to play with subtle music tunings and coax brass players (and other musicians) into achieving delicious harmonies."</li></ul></li><li>[[microtonal_woodwinds|Woodwinds]]
== Winds ==
* [[Bassoon]]
* [[Clarinet]]
* [[Flugelhorn]]
* [[Flute]]
* [[Fretless saxophone]]
* [[Harmonica]]
* [[Horn]]
* [[Infinitone]]
* [[Recorder]]
* [[Saxophone]]
* [[Shakuhachi]]
* [[Trombone]]
* [[Trumpet]]
* [[Tuba]]
* [[Udderbot]]
* [[Whistle]]


<ul><li>Reedless Instruments: [[Flutes|Flutes]], [[microrecorder|Recorders]], [[Whistles|Whistles]]</li><li>Reed Instruments: [[Bassoons|Bassoons]], [[microtonal_clarinet|Clarinets]], [[Saxophones|Saxophones]], [[Oboes|Oboes]]</li></ul></li><li>[[mallet_percussion|Percussion]]
== Percussion ==
* [[Bells]]
* [[Conic Bellophone in 96edo|Conic bellophone]]
* [[Daxophone]]
* [[Kalimba]]
* [[Marimba]]
* [[Tubulong]]


<ul><li>[[mallet_percussion|mallet keyboards]]: vibraphone, xylophone, [[marimba|marimba]], glockenspiel, crotales, lithophone, etc.</li><li>tuned drums: timpani, rototoms, pat waing</li><li>bells: [[carillon|carillon]], [[Conic_Bellophone_in_96edo|conic bellophone]], [[tubulong|tubulong]], amglocken, handbells, [[zoomoozophone|zoomoozophone]], [http://www.ekmelic-music.org/en/instr/kk.htm sound tower/sound cube]</li><li>lamellophones: [[kalimba_(mbira)|kalimba (mbira)]], marimbula</li><li>friction idiophones: musical saw, wine glasses, [[nail_violin|nail violin]], [[Daxophone|Daxophone]]</li></ul></li><li>[[Microtonal_Keyboards|Keyboards]]: <span style="">Piano</span>, <span style="">Harpsichord</span>, <span style="">Organ</span>, <span style="">Clavichord, but also Synthesizers</span></li><li>[[Free_Reeds|Free Reeds]]:
== Keyboards ==
{{Main| Keyboard }}


<ul><li>[[Harmonica|Harmonica]]</li><li>Reed Organs, Accordion, Melodica, Khaen, etc.</li></ul></li><li>Others: [[udderbot|udderbot]], [[tubulong|tubulong]], [http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/oddmusic/message/17051 balloon flute]</li><li>Web browser based: [https://www.retuner.net ReTuner]</li><li>[[Software|Software]], [[DAWs|DAWs]], [[List_of_Microtonal_Software_Plugins|plugins]]</li></ul>
* [[Fluid piano]]
* [[Piano]]


=Tuning-agnostic instruments=
== Strings ==
These instruments can play in any microtonal scale out-of-the-box, because 12edo is not a part of their manufacture:
* [[Autoharp]]
* [[Bowed strings]]
* [[Electric bass]]
* [[Guitar]]
* [[Harp]]
* [[Harpejji]]
* [[Pedal steel guitar]]
* [[Qanun]]
* [[Ukulele]]


* Fretless string instruments
== See also ==
* [[List of xenharmonic fixed pitch instruments]]
* [[:Category:Instruments]]


** Fretless bass
== Further reading ==
** Fretless guitar
* 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.
** Violin, viola, cello, double bass (the string quartet is a whole tuning-agnostic ensemble)
* [https://archive.org/details/emi_archive/ Experimental Musical Instruments] journal
** Oud
* Fletcher and Rossing, [https://csclub.uwaterloo.ca/~pbarfuss/The_Physics_of_Musical_Instruments.pdf The Physics of Musical Instruments]. Springer-Verlag, 1991
* String instruments with one pitch per string
** Hammered dulcimer
* Wind instruments with a slide or other continuous pitch control
** Trombone
** [[Udderbot]]
* Musical saw
* Theremin
* [[Daxophone]]


[[Category:Instruments]]
[[Category:Instruments| ]]
[[Category:Practice]]
[[Category:Todo:expand]]
[[Category:Tools]]

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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