Unusual, melodious, interesting – a collection of unusual instruments

Whether electric guitar, trumpet or cello – at König & Meyer, we offer perfectly fitting stands, holders and other accessories for almost all well-known and widely used musical instruments. But what about instruments that you hardly ever see on stage or in music shops? Those that are so unusual that they often don’t need a stand – because they lie on your lap, float in the air or are even homemade?

Today, on “Unusual Musical Instruments Day”, we present six extraordinary instruments and check what equipment we can offer to support them.

Acoustic and extraordinary

1. Hang drum

It looks like a UFO and sounds like a mixture of a harp and a steel drum: the hang drum is played with the hands and is usually held on the lap or on a cushion. Anyone who practises meditation or yoga will certainly be familiar with this instrument. It is ideal for meditative sound journeys and relaxation. The hang drum is also often found among street musicians: it is practical because it is played while seated and requires pure intuition.

2. Glass harmonica

An instrument like something from another world: rotating glass discs are made to sing with moistened fingers. Made famous by Mozart and Benjamin Franklin, it remains a rare gem – usually permanently installed, not intended for use on stage.

Ethnic & World Music

3. Didgeridoo

The oldest wind instrument in the world comes from Australia and requires one thing above all else: lung capacity. The instrument is played while seated, with the 1 to 2.5 metre long didgeridoo held “simply” on the floor or between the legs. No extras – just an unmistakably deep, pulsating sound. The instrument can be stored in an oboe stand such as the 18020.

4. Kora

The West African harp lute with 21 strings is a marvel made of calabash, leather and wood. Traditionally, the player sits cross-legged with the kora on the floor leaning against their body. Elegant and minimalistic – just like its sound. The plucked instrument can be stored in a guitar stand, for example, the  »Heli 2«.

Experimental & modern

5. Waterphone

It sounds like something out of a horror film – and that’s exactly what it’s used for: the Waterphone produces ghostly sounds by rubbing and striking metal rods over a water-filled resonance chamber. Goosebumps guaranteed, no stand required. If desired, a laptop stand (seen below in the slider) can be used as a shelf.

6. Theremin

A classic of the avant-garde: the theremin is played without being touched – hands control pitch and volume via two antennas. The box, which is usually rectangular, can be placed on a table, or you can actually use a keyboard or laptop stand. Some models have a 3/8 inch connection for a microphone stand.

Conclusion: Music knows no boundaries

The world of music is huge, colourful and sometimes pretty weird – in the best possible way! The instruments presented here demonstrate how versatile and creative sound can be. Most of them manage without much technology or equipment. However, in some cases, our products may still be helpful.

Have you ever heard or even played one of these instruments? Or do you know of any other unusual sound wonders?

👉 Write to us in the comments or on social media – we look forward to hearing about your discoveries!