World Instruments

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Comment by Bruce Burger on June 17, 2009 at 5:22pm

Nice charango video. For those interested in this instrument, if you are ever in San Francisco, stop by Pena Pacha Mama in North Beach. It's a Bolivian/Peruvian restaurant and Eddie, behind the bar is one of the finest charango players and composers from South America. He and his wife own the place and play there frequently. If you go, have a great time and tell them "hi" for me!

-Bruce/RebbeSoul

Comment by Kaisir on October 16, 2008 at 6:16pm

That will be my next instrument then. Thank you for your post Mike

Comment by Mike Collins on October 13, 2008 at 3:05pm

My most unusual instrument is the mandolin banjo! I was offered one of these instruments - made by Gibson in the 1920's - by a banjo dealer who brought several banjos for me to try with a view to buying. I immediately fell in love with the instrument and bought it straight away! I will post a picture when I get the chance, but, basically, it has the neck of a mandolin, with four courses of double strings, tuned in 5ths like a mandolin, and it has the body of a small banjo - looking similar to a snare drum with a drumskin stretched over a circular metal frame.

Comment by Kaisir on April 8, 2008 at 1:25pm

Today's featured instrument is the tabla. This is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in the classical, popular and religious music of the Indian subcontinent and in Hindustani classical music. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres. The term tabla is derived from a Sanskrit word which means "drum". Other spelling for the word "tabla" include Thabla or tubblaa.

This is a freestyle video. Traditional tabla videos can also be found. I just like this better.

Comment by Kaisir on April 2, 2008 at 3:20am

The above video shows a charango player. According to wikipedia, "The charango is a small South American stringed instrument of the lute family, about 66 cm long, traditionally made with the shell of the back of an armadillo (not to be confused with a Cuban style of music called "charanga"). It typically has 10 strings in five courses of 2 strings each, although other variations exist."

He plays it really well.

Comment by Kaisir on April 1, 2008 at 1:05pm

Post any pictures of instruments you bump into or have any interests in any specific sounds from that particular instrument. Please provide the name of the instrument and a brief link or history of the same. Thanx.