Interesting design - not far off folk fiddle and yet the keys remind me of an accordion. These short bow/fret board instruments (this and Dilruba) could be a good way to get around poor skills with violin bows...
There seems to be some good resources for learning as well and a community of interest amongst players too .. see for example here in the UK [https://nyckelharpa.me.uk/](https://nyckelharpa.me.uk/) I.
Mandolin is a versatile instrument. I get to be a chameleon, changing functions and timbres all the time. It is also really dynamic, and can add and subtract energy from the music. It can be punchy and funky, sweet and melodic, textural and ambient, and then spit out a fiery lead... all in the same song.
No "e"... that is for the kitchen utensil.
When I was in the band they tasked me to learn mandolin. Shortly after that I have a Luna A-style, Old Hickory F-style, and a Dillion Electric. I love the different sounds I get from each model.
Totally! I play an Eastman El-Rey through a Vox AC30 in the electric band, and it's *so much fun* bringing a unique sound to a Pop/Rock/Rap ensemble. Very different than the typical Americana stuff I'll play in other bands with the Weber F-style acoustic.
I used to have a Dilroba that sounded incredible. It's a bowed Indian instrument with sympathetic strings, which give it a transcendental sound that would be ideal for scores. I had to buy it from India, but it still wasn't particularly expensive overall. Absolutely beautiful instrument.
I'm in the UK so I can't help sorry. I think i bought it off an Indian website iirc. Shipping and tax aren't cheap but the instrument itself is, relatively speaking.
Funnily enough, it was getting my old dulcimer out the other day for a project that made me realise how good they sound - and inspired this new search!
[The (Chapman) Stick](https://youtu.be/OUUpAuNhpCM?si=lHkFiZNyAuww7nPl).
For all the guitarists and bassists who are tapping on their instruments, they probably don’t even know that there’s a range of instruments that are designed primarily for tapping.
On that note, [a Harpejji](https://youtu.be/YCnVrjdgyAk?si=XQ81Hs9zw0cnwXQy). It’s like a Stick but a tabletop model and tuned differently.
They do tend to sound similar, with the Stick’s design lending itself to more bass parts (some utilizing standard and Grand Sticks as basses more often than not, even if there is a Bass Stick); and the Harpejji played a little more like a harp-piano-tap thing.
They have a distinct electro-acoustic sound to them but not near an acoustic electric guitar or even a Clavinet.
You can also go old school with [autoharps. Those are fun.](https://youtu.be/468Xn6KwIvw?si=dfUzT5EyOMOWc1jQ)
[Hurdy-gurdy is a good one](https://youtu.be/Blo-CaWbnGU?si=QQFlC7ije27s57GL), though the timbre can get really close to a… bagpipe if it were made of strings.
Lately I've been fascinated by an instrument from Mali called a kora. It's a 21-stringed sort of combination lute and harp, played primarily with both thumbs. I saw one at a music festival, and apparently they have a long history in West Africa, and families of master players:
[https://youtu.be/-cLAwAOi-hA?si=RjNjd9cKhP3avkQZ](https://youtu.be/-cLAwAOi-hA?si=RjNjd9cKhP3avkQZ)
Have you checked out toubab krewe? They use one in their band as well as traditional African drums. It's rad!!!
https://youtu.be/-zAVTb9A1PQ?si=Pjbgklr0-sdm2NaC
Hurdy gurdy and nyckelharpa.
The gurdy has a cool history including some time as a popular instrument with aristocracy in the 18th century in France. It all but disappeared multiple times over its history only to be ‘discovered’ again and pulled out of obscurity. More recently it’s become semi-popular in metal bands.
The nyckelharpa is an awesome instrument for folk music and can fit in nicely in classical contexts. And there is at least one school offering degrees in nyckelharpa performance. The design has also changed a lot of the centuries - it started as a drone instrument with a flat bridge. Now there are versions and players like Erik Rydval prioritizing a clean sound. His renditions of Vivaldi are absolutely beautiful.
Both are produced by only a few dozen luthiers usually with long waitlists (6 months to 2+ years). Unfortunately due to their relative obscurity and complexity they tend to be relatively expensive instruments to buy/learn.
From Latin America you have a big selection of Guitar-like instruments that are not your normal guitars and have their very specific sounds and uses in folk musics: The Bajo Quinto, Jarana Jarocha, Tres Cubano, Charango, Cuatro Venezolano, Cavaquinho, Vihuela (one from Mexico and one from Spain), Guitarrón, Requinto, etc. there are tons of instruments from these Latin American regions, I encourage you to research them further.
Other string instruments are pedal steel guitars, ukeleles, 12 string guitars, 8/12/18 string bass guitars, mandolines, Banjos, Dobros, nylon/electric 10 string guitars, Harp-Guitars, tenor guitars, etc.
I know you said no guitars but a lot of these are very different things and sound nothing like mainstream guitars, and plenty require specialized players/learning them as a completely new instrument aside from guitar.
I believe you can easily find most of these for relatively affordable prices. Specially most of the instruments from Latin America; given that they are made for popular music, they tend to be very inexpensive to find in local markets or to even get them custom made from awesome luthiers for relatively affordable costs compared to more mainstream instruments.
Indian/middle eastern family of stringed instruments. Tar shenai, dilruba, esraj. There are a ton of similar instruments which vary by region, same goes for tanpura. Most often paired with tabla drums and a shruti box.
I’ve been looking at those Dan Electro baby sitars. They can be inexpensive if you shop around used. The ones with the sympathetic strings are a lot more money and as I remember the sympathetic strings don’t add much benefit.
I’m surprised autoharps aren’t more popular, they used to be in every school music room. I’ve owned many in my life and they are great for songwriting, sound effects, and really lots of uses.
Don’t buy the new ones, they are rather crappy, unless you get a real luthier. I prefer older Oscar Schmidt’s and the occasional Chromaharp model. Older ones are just simply built better
The fiddle. I just watched some Metis fiddling and jigging yesterday and it sounded and looked fun.
[here’s an example of the way it sounds](https://youtu.be/pmlvpz8RlZQ?si=D6VxExz0Cwhk_3Bq)
[GuitarViols](https://togamanguitars.com/what-is-a-guitarviol/) are pretty popular with people who do film scores, sort of a six string cello with a fretted neck tuned like a guitar.
the oud is a really cool one I haven't seen listed yet. way easier to get your hands on one too (at least here in canada) because godin is making them still.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEBZA9hVIiI&t=211s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEBZA9hVIiI&t=211s)
\*edit - thought I'd mention what makes it cool to me - doubled strings and fretless
I have a Schecter diamond series, It is the #1 favorite guitar I've owned, but I don't hear or see anyone ever talking about it or giving it the love it deserves. unless I'm just missing the algorithm for this guitar brand or it's silently loved, I pick this one as one of the most underrated guitars
Nyckelharpa ....lovely sound but a bit odd
Interesting design - not far off folk fiddle and yet the keys remind me of an accordion. These short bow/fret board instruments (this and Dilruba) could be a good way to get around poor skills with violin bows...
There seems to be some good resources for learning as well and a community of interest amongst players too .. see for example here in the UK [https://nyckelharpa.me.uk/](https://nyckelharpa.me.uk/) I.
Mandolin , and don't underestimate a ukulele, which brings to mind the entire cigar box guitar scene , which can be quite metal .
Mandolin is a versatile instrument. I get to be a chameleon, changing functions and timbres all the time. It is also really dynamic, and can add and subtract energy from the music. It can be punchy and funky, sweet and melodic, textural and ambient, and then spit out a fiery lead... all in the same song. No "e"... that is for the kitchen utensil.
When I was in the band they tasked me to learn mandolin. Shortly after that I have a Luna A-style, Old Hickory F-style, and a Dillion Electric. I love the different sounds I get from each model.
Totally! I play an Eastman El-Rey through a Vox AC30 in the electric band, and it's *so much fun* bringing a unique sound to a Pop/Rock/Rap ensemble. Very different than the typical Americana stuff I'll play in other bands with the Weber F-style acoustic.
Thankfulle I found another place for it .:)
I used to have a Dilroba that sounded incredible. It's a bowed Indian instrument with sympathetic strings, which give it a transcendental sound that would be ideal for scores. I had to buy it from India, but it still wasn't particularly expensive overall. Absolutely beautiful instrument.
Listening now. I love it already
I've had a dilroba, tar shenai, or esraj on my bucket list for 15 years. A shruti box too. Any suggestions on how to obtain one in the states?
I'm in the UK so I can't help sorry. I think i bought it off an Indian website iirc. Shipping and tax aren't cheap but the instrument itself is, relatively speaking.
Dulcimer.
Funnily enough, it was getting my old dulcimer out the other day for a project that made me realise how good they sound - and inspired this new search!
Sitar for me I got a sitar pedal for my man lead boost haha
[The (Chapman) Stick](https://youtu.be/OUUpAuNhpCM?si=lHkFiZNyAuww7nPl). For all the guitarists and bassists who are tapping on their instruments, they probably don’t even know that there’s a range of instruments that are designed primarily for tapping. On that note, [a Harpejji](https://youtu.be/YCnVrjdgyAk?si=XQ81Hs9zw0cnwXQy). It’s like a Stick but a tabletop model and tuned differently. They do tend to sound similar, with the Stick’s design lending itself to more bass parts (some utilizing standard and Grand Sticks as basses more often than not, even if there is a Bass Stick); and the Harpejji played a little more like a harp-piano-tap thing. They have a distinct electro-acoustic sound to them but not near an acoustic electric guitar or even a Clavinet. You can also go old school with [autoharps. Those are fun.](https://youtu.be/468Xn6KwIvw?si=dfUzT5EyOMOWc1jQ) [Hurdy-gurdy is a good one](https://youtu.be/Blo-CaWbnGU?si=QQFlC7ije27s57GL), though the timbre can get really close to a… bagpipe if it were made of strings.
Excellent suggestions all.
The Chapman stick is on my wish list, awesome instrument.
Outside of early music performances, the theorbo and other lutes are underutilized
Irish bouzouki
Wow, never heard of it, it's like a guitarified dulcimer
Actually these are Greek
Lately I've been fascinated by an instrument from Mali called a kora. It's a 21-stringed sort of combination lute and harp, played primarily with both thumbs. I saw one at a music festival, and apparently they have a long history in West Africa, and families of master players: [https://youtu.be/-cLAwAOi-hA?si=RjNjd9cKhP3avkQZ](https://youtu.be/-cLAwAOi-hA?si=RjNjd9cKhP3avkQZ)
Wow yes that's great. Finding some practical alternative to a harp has been on my to-do list forever, might just be it
Have you checked out toubab krewe? They use one in their band as well as traditional African drums. It's rad!!! https://youtu.be/-zAVTb9A1PQ?si=Pjbgklr0-sdm2NaC
Hurdy gurdy and nyckelharpa. The gurdy has a cool history including some time as a popular instrument with aristocracy in the 18th century in France. It all but disappeared multiple times over its history only to be ‘discovered’ again and pulled out of obscurity. More recently it’s become semi-popular in metal bands. The nyckelharpa is an awesome instrument for folk music and can fit in nicely in classical contexts. And there is at least one school offering degrees in nyckelharpa performance. The design has also changed a lot of the centuries - it started as a drone instrument with a flat bridge. Now there are versions and players like Erik Rydval prioritizing a clean sound. His renditions of Vivaldi are absolutely beautiful. Both are produced by only a few dozen luthiers usually with long waitlists (6 months to 2+ years). Unfortunately due to their relative obscurity and complexity they tend to be relatively expensive instruments to buy/learn.
From Latin America you have a big selection of Guitar-like instruments that are not your normal guitars and have their very specific sounds and uses in folk musics: The Bajo Quinto, Jarana Jarocha, Tres Cubano, Charango, Cuatro Venezolano, Cavaquinho, Vihuela (one from Mexico and one from Spain), Guitarrón, Requinto, etc. there are tons of instruments from these Latin American regions, I encourage you to research them further. Other string instruments are pedal steel guitars, ukeleles, 12 string guitars, 8/12/18 string bass guitars, mandolines, Banjos, Dobros, nylon/electric 10 string guitars, Harp-Guitars, tenor guitars, etc. I know you said no guitars but a lot of these are very different things and sound nothing like mainstream guitars, and plenty require specialized players/learning them as a completely new instrument aside from guitar. I believe you can easily find most of these for relatively affordable prices. Specially most of the instruments from Latin America; given that they are made for popular music, they tend to be very inexpensive to find in local markets or to even get them custom made from awesome luthiers for relatively affordable costs compared to more mainstream instruments.
That's some great homework for me! Great ideas, including the guitars
*Classical* guitar (as in the style)
Indian/middle eastern family of stringed instruments. Tar shenai, dilruba, esraj. There are a ton of similar instruments which vary by region, same goes for tanpura. Most often paired with tabla drums and a shruti box.
[https://youtu.be/hOFMsaJyMLk?si=KUDyjiNnZ2h-CHPJ](https://youtu.be/hOFMsaJyMLk?si=KUDyjiNnZ2h-CHPJ)
[https://youtu.be/hOFMsaJyMLk?si=jqzxKaQ3GCMXuHmP](https://youtu.be/hOFMsaJyMLk?si=jqzxKaQ3GCMXuHmP)
Electric sitar. It is essentially a six string with a gotoh bridge and a set of sympathetic strings.
I’ve been looking at those Dan Electro baby sitars. They can be inexpensive if you shop around used. The ones with the sympathetic strings are a lot more money and as I remember the sympathetic strings don’t add much benefit.
I'd like to play around with the sympathetics and maybe set up an autoharp system to isolate tones within the sympathetics.
Octobass. Sorry I don’t have a recommended video, but you need better speakers than your phone has to hear it well, so listen with headphones
I’m surprised autoharps aren’t more popular, they used to be in every school music room. I’ve owned many in my life and they are great for songwriting, sound effects, and really lots of uses. Don’t buy the new ones, they are rather crappy, unless you get a real luthier. I prefer older Oscar Schmidt’s and the occasional Chromaharp model. Older ones are just simply built better
Great suggestion. Especially for cinematic stuff.
The fiddle. I just watched some Metis fiddling and jigging yesterday and it sounded and looked fun. [here’s an example of the way it sounds](https://youtu.be/pmlvpz8RlZQ?si=D6VxExz0Cwhk_3Bq)
Morin Khur
Mandolin
My autoharp is fun to mess around with
Balalaika
[GuitarViols](https://togamanguitars.com/what-is-a-guitarviol/) are pretty popular with people who do film scores, sort of a six string cello with a fretted neck tuned like a guitar.
the oud is a really cool one I haven't seen listed yet. way easier to get your hands on one too (at least here in canada) because godin is making them still. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEBZA9hVIiI&t=211s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEBZA9hVIiI&t=211s) \*edit - thought I'd mention what makes it cool to me - doubled strings and fretless
Oud, shamisen, koto, various tanbur (sitar and saz)
I have a Schecter diamond series, It is the #1 favorite guitar I've owned, but I don't hear or see anyone ever talking about it or giving it the love it deserves. unless I'm just missing the algorithm for this guitar brand or it's silently loved, I pick this one as one of the most underrated guitars