Unusual Stringed Instruments Going Viral

I admit, sometimes on my phone I stop myself mid-scroll when I see unusual stringed instruments. Others do as well as many of these are starting to go viral.

Odds are these instruments don’t look anything you’ve likely seen before. Some have wheels and other mechanical features. Some use a substantial amount of stings. And some look like they’ve been transported from a fantasy movie. Yet despite their unusual appearance, these instruments all sound hauntingly beautiful and are worth a closer look.

Hurdy-Gurdy

In terms of unusual stringed instruments, we start our list with with the hurdy-gurdy.

Often described as a mechanical violin or a “wheel fiddle”, the hurdy-gurdy is a mechanical stringed instrument that originated in medieval Europe. It produces sound through a hand-cranked, rosined wooden wheel that rubs against strings.  This creates a continuous, buzzing, bagpipe-like sound or drone.

In addition, players use a keyboard to press “tangents” against the strings to change pitch.  This allows the hurdy-gurdy to create complex, two-octave melodies.

When musician Patty Gurdy plays it, the instrument feels alive. Her videos show how something from the Middle Ages can sound epic, emotional, and modern. For Dungeons and Dragons fans, the hurdy-gurdy is also featured prominently in role play as a instrument within 5E.

Please support Patty Gurdy’s channel by liking her video.

Nyckelharpa

Dating back over 600 years, the nyckelharpa is another instrument getting attention.

The nyckelharpa is a traditional Swedish bowed string instrument, often featuring 16 strings and 37 wooden keys that function as frets.

Swedish for “key harp” or “keyed fiddle”, musicians play the nyckelharpa with a short bow struck against various different strings. These include 3 “melody” strings, 1 “drone” string, and 12 “sympathetic” resonance strings.  All of these strings produce a rich, echo-like sound.

This instrument is typically worn with a shoulder strap and played underarm. While it looks complicated, this instrument produces a sound that is both warm and haunting.

Accomplished musician Erik Rydvall has helped bring the nyckelharpa to new audiences worldwide. His videos often feel calm and peaceful, like stepping into a quiet forest. One comment I’ve seen in an online trade journal sums up this unique instrument nicely: “I’ve never heard this before, but I love it.”

Please support Erik Rydvall’s channel by liking his video.

Kora

Then there’s the kora.

The kora is a 21-stringed West African harp-lute.  It is constructed using a large, cowhide-covered body made of a calabash gourd and a long hardwood neck.

Originating in the 1700s, musicians known as Mandinka griots (storytellers/historians) traditionally play the kora to accompany oral traditions. As shown in the video below, musicians typically play the kora vertically with thumbs and index fingers. 

The sound can be characterized as complex and harp-like.  Musicians like Toumani Diabaté show how deep and expressive the kora can be.

Please support Toumani Diabaté’s channel by liking his video.

Harpejji

Some unusual stringed instruments going viral aren’t ancient — they’re brand new. The harpejji is a modern stringed instrument played by tapping the strings instead of strumming. It looks like a mix between a guitar and a keyboard, and yet it is quite the unusual stringed instrument.

The harpejji is a tapping electric stringed instrument developed by Tim Meeks of Marcodi Musical Products in 2007.  His goal was to basically bridge the gap between guitar and piano.

Played by tapping strings against frets (usually 16-24 strings), it features a unique layout.  This layout is called “isomorphic”, where chords maintain their shape across the board. Electronic muting can also be used to produce a distinct sound.

Young musician Jacob Collier has helped make it famous by using it in live performances and online videos. People are amazed that one instrument can handle bass, chords, and melody all at once.

Please support Jacob Collier’s channel by liking his video.

Experimental Instruments

There’s also a growing interest for experimental instruments that don’t quite fit into any category.

For example, designer and performer Alon Ilsar from Sydney, Australia creates strange instruments that feel more like sound machines than traditional tools. Viewers genuinely can’t tell what they’re looking at — and they want to understand it.

Below is an example of some of Alon’s creative work. Here he presents a new gestural instrument which he dubs “AirSticks”. Please support his channel by liking his video.

Final Words

Like the mountain and hammered dulcimers, the hurdy-gurdy, nyckelharpa, kora, and harpejji are all unique and unusual stringed instruments gaining attention.  Yet they all sound beautiful and have their own bit of personality. 

In a world full of auto-tuned vocals and copy-paste sounds, these rare stringed instruments feel real, personal, and a little magical.