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Instruments: Difference between revisions

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Information on how to get musical instruments to play music in a variety of tunings.
{{Catrel|Instruments}}


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


{{Todo|rework <!-- list markup, links -->}}
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]]
== String instruments ==
=== Plucked strings ===
* Fretted:
**[[Guitar]]
** [[Electric bass]]
**[[Pedal steel guitar]]
**[[Fun With Microtones|Ukulele]]
** Others: banjo, bouzuki, mandolin, balalaika, sitar, [[Wikipedia:Moodswinger|moodswinger]], etc.
* Fretless:
**[[Autoharp]]
** [[Electric bass|Fretless bass]]
** [[Qanun]]
** Others: oud, harp, zither (including kantele), hammer dulcimer, [[Wikipedia:Đàn bầu|đàn bầu]], etc.
* Keyboard plucked strings
** Harpsichord


<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]]


<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>
{{todo|inline=1|complete section|text=Add information about harpsichords, including microtonal harpsichords.}}


<li>Web browser-based on-screen keyboards:<ul>
=== Bowed strings ===
<li>
* Fretted:
[[User:SAKryukov#Microtonal_Music_Study_using_specialized_chromatic_keyboards_and_Web_Audio_API|&ldquo;Microtonal Music Study&rdquo; family]]
** [[Bowed strings|Viol family and other bowed fretted strings]] (viola da gamba, some types of violone, baryton, arpeggione, GuitarViol, fretted violin, etc.)
<li>
* Fretless:
<li>
** [[Bowed strings|Violin family]] (violin, viola, cello, bass, some types of violone, etc.)
</li>
** Others: [[Wikipedia:Huqin|huqin]], etc.
<li>ReTuner:
[https://www.facebook.com/retuner on facebook], [https://encyclotronic.com/apps/microtonal/retuner-r24 on Encyclotronic]
</ul>
</li>


<li>[[Free_Reeds|Free Reeds]]:
== Wind instruments ==
=== Brass instruments ===
* [[Flugelhorn]]
* [[Horn]]
* [[Trumpet]]
* [[Trombone]]
* Others: tuba, digeridoo, alphorn, etc.


<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>[[Software|Software]], [[DAWs|DAWs]], [[List_of_Microtonal_Software_Plugins|plugins]]</li></ul>
=== Woodwind instruments ===
* Reedless:
** [[Flute]]
** [[Recorder]]
** [[Shakuhachi]]
** [[Whistle]]
** Others: khaen, some very small organs, etc.
* Reed:
** [[Bassoon]]/contrabassoon
** Oboe
** English horn
** Heckelphone/Lupophone
** [[Clarinet]]
** [[Harmonica]]
** [[Saxophone]]
** [[Fretless saxophone]]
** Others: reed organ, regal, accordion, melodica, etc.
* Combination:
** Organ (usually has both flue and reed stops, and may also have percussion stops, especially in the case of theatre organs)
 
 
{{todo|inline=1|complete section|text=Add organ information page including microtonal organs.}}
 
=== Others ===
* [http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/oddmusic/message/17051 Balloon flute]{{dead link}}
* [[Infinitone]]
* [[Udderbot]]
 
== Percussion instruments ==
* Mallet keyboards:
** [[Marimba]]
** Others: vibraphone, xylophone, glockenspiel, crotales, lithophone, etc.
* Tuned drums: timpani, rototoms, pat waing, etc.
* Bells:
**[[Conic Bellophone in 96edo|Conic bellophone]]
** [http://www.ekmelic-music.org/en/instr/kk.htm Sound tower/sound cube]{{dead link}}
**[[Tubulong]]
** Others: carillon, amglocken, handbells, etc.
* Lamellophones:
** [[Kalimba (mbira)]], marimbula
* Friction idiophones:
** [[Daxophone]]
** Others: musical saw, wine glasses, nail violin, etc.
* Hammered dulcimers (including [[wikipedia:yangqin|yangqin]] and lavachord, the latter of which also belongs to keyboard instruments)
** Finger-hammered dulcimers: [[harpejji]].
* [[Keyboard]]s: piano, tangent piano (including [[fluid piano]]), organ (when equipped with percussion stops), clavichord (including the Clavinet and its derivatives).
 
 
{{todo|inline=1|complete section|text=Add clavichord information page including microtonal derivatives of the Clavinet.}}
 
== Electronic instruments ==
* [[Software]], [[DAWs]], [[List of Microtonal Software Plugins|plugins]]
* Synthesizers:
** [[Lumatone]]
** [[SoMa Terra]]
** Others: see [[Keyboard#List of generalized keyboards]]
* [[Novation Launchpad]]
* [[Wikipedia:Ondes Martenot|Ondes Martenot]]
* [[Wikipedia:Theremin|Theremin]]
* [[Wikipedia:Trautonium|Trautonium]]
* Web browser-based on-screen keyboards:
** [[User:SAKryukov#Microtonal Fabric|&ldquo;Microtonal Fabric&rdquo; family]]
** ReTuner: [https://www.facebook.com/retuner on facebook], [https://encyclotronic.com/apps/microtonal/retuner-r24 on Encyclotronic]{{dead link}}


== Tuning-agnostic instruments ==
== Tuning-agnostic instruments ==
These instruments can play in any microtonal scale out-of-the-box, because 12edo is not a part of their manufacture:
These instruments can play in any microtonal scale out-of-the-box, because 12edo is not a part of their manufacture:


*[[Daxophone]]
* Fretless string instruments
* Fretless string instruments
** Fretless bass
** Fretless bass
** Fretless guitar
** Fretless guitar
** Oud
** Violin, viola, cello, double bass (the string quartet is a whole tuning-agnostic ensemble)
** Violin, viola, cello, double bass (the string quartet is a whole tuning-agnostic ensemble)
** Oud
* Musical saw
* String instruments with one pitch per string
* String instruments with one pitch per string
** Hammered dulcimer
** Hammered dulcimer (when provided with on-the-fly adjustable tuning mechanism, such as fluid dulcimer or the more modern versions of [[Wikipedia:Yangqin|Yangqin]])
* [[Wikipedia:Ondes Martenot|Ondes Martenot]]
* [[Wikipedia:Theremin|Theremin]]
* [[Wikipedia:Trautonium|Trautonium]]
* Wind instruments with a slide or other continuous pitch control
* Wind instruments with a slide or other continuous pitch control
** Trombone
** Trombone
** [[Fretless saxophone]]
** [[Infinitone]]
** [[Udderbot]]
** [[Udderbot]]
* Musical saw
* [[Daxophone]]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theremin Theremin (originally named Termenvox)]


[[Category:Instruments]]
== See also ==
[[Category:Practice]]
* [[List of xenharmonic fixed pitch instruments]]
[[Category:Tools]]
 
== 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


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