In New Guinea, drum makers would mix human blood into the adhesive used to attach the membrane. Mulberry trees are held in high regard in China owing to their mythological significance—instrument makers would hence use them to make zithers. The Yakuts believe that making drums from trees struck by lightning gives them a special connection to nature. A 1975 Moog Modular 55 synthesizerThe latter half of the 20th century saw the evolution of synthesizers, which produce sound using circuits and microchips. In the late 1960s, Bob Moog and other inventors developed the first commercial synthesizers, such as the Moog synthesizer. Whereas once they had filled rooms, synthesizers can now be embedded in any electronic device, and are ubiquitous in modern music. Samplers, introduced around 1980, allow users to sample and reuse existing sounds, and were important to the development of hip hop.

What’s the Right Age to Start Playing an Instrument?

When you learn to play an instrument, you’re developing a skill that you can enjoy for the rest of your life. Unlike other hobbies, you’ll never age out of playing your instrument. Does playing in an acoustic stringed instrument jam session sound good?

There is no one perfect way to introduce an instrument to your child. Your approach should be tailored to your child’s needs, interests, and abilities. Kids who can focus for longer and have a natural affinity for music may do better with longer or more rigorous lesson expectations. If you’re looking to play small-ensemble music, be it classic rock or reggae or any number of other genres, where do you envision yourself fitting in? If you want to be out front, pick the instrument that takes the most solos and plays the melody within your chosen genre. If you’d rather be an unsung hero, go for something in the rhythm section. If you can’t hoist something heavy, don’t try to play upright bass.

Range

Despite this trend in traditional instruments, the development of new musical instruments exploded in the twentieth century, and the variety of instruments developed overshadows any prior period. India experienced similar development to China in the post-classical era; however, stringed instruments developed differently as they accommodated different styles of music. While stringed instruments of China were designed to produce precise tones capable of matching the tones of chimes, stringed instruments of India were considerably more flexible. This flexibility suited the slides and tremolos of Hindu music.

History

Persian miniatures provide information on the development of kettle drums in Mesopotamia that spread as far as Java. Various lutes, zithers, dulcimers, and harps spread as far as Madagascar to the south and modern-day Sulawesi to the east. Scholars agree that there are no completely reliable methods of determining the exact chronology of musical instruments across cultures. Comparing and organizing instruments based on their complexity is misleading, since advancements in musical instruments have sometimes reduced complexity.

They felt that polyphony better suited the emotional style they were aiming for and began writing musical parts for instruments that would complement the singing human voice. As a result, many instruments that מגבר לגיטרה חשמלית were incapable of larger ranges and dynamics, and therefore were seen as unemotional, fell out of favor. Bowed instruments such as the violin, viola, baryton, and various lutes dominated popular music.