Guide to the Ophicleide

A photo of the family of Ophicleide

The Ophicleide is a wind instrument that somehow shared similarity with the tuba and saxophone. It is invented in the 1800s and belongs to the bugle family. It also shares a similar shape to the sudrophone, another brass instrument that was developed in the same era.  The term Ophicleide comes from the … Read more

Guide to the Dulzaina

A photo of the dulzaina

The dulzaina, also known as dolcaina, is a double-reed instrument that is part of the oboe family. This instrument originated from Spain during the 14th century and is often used to replace the clarinet or oboe. Also, the dulzaina was first introduced in Spain through Arabic people. It is deeply rooted in … Read more

Guide to Guan – A Chinese Wind Instrument

Instrument

Guan is a Chinese double-reed wind instrument that is also called as bili or guanzi. Unlike other double-reed instruments with conical bores, the guan has a cylindrical bore, which gives its distinctive buzz-like but mellow timbre. In this article, we are going to learn more about the history and characteristics of this … Read more

Guide to Citterns

Cittern displayed at the Music Museum of Barcelona

The cittern, or sometimes spelled as cithern, is arguably one of the most important and undoubtedly the most famous renaissance instruments next to the lute. Similar to the earlier instrument called gittern, the cittern was an instrument that almost everyone loved back in the renaissance period, no matter what their social standing … Read more

Guide to Bandola

Bandola Oriental

A bandola is one of the several varieties of small and pear-shaped chordophones. This instrument is usually found and used in Colombia and Venezuela. Bandolas are also related to other stringed instruments like the mandolin and bandurria. In this article, we are going to learn more about the history and different types … Read more

Guide to the Diddley Bow

A photo of Moses Williams playing the didley bow

The diddley bow is a primitive one-stringed guitar that influences the development of the blues music genre.It is also known as one-string, jitterbug, or monochord zither.This instrument was also considered as a starter or practice instrument in the Southern part of America, mostly in the African-American community.Nevertheless, professional musicians nowadays use the … Read more

Guide to the Marimba

A photo of the xylophone with its mallet

The marimba is one of the percussion instruments that is struck by a rubber or yarn mallet. Much like the xylophone and the glockenspiel, the marimba has chromatic key bars that are arranged like the keys of the piano.However, in comparison to the glockenspiel, the marimba has wooden key bars like the … Read more

Guide to the Bugle

A photo of a military bugle

The bugle is a wind instrument that played a prominent part in several great wars of history. Its martial notes had been heard in the battles along with the buglers that have stood ready to sound the bugle calls. During the revolutionary times, this instrument sounded the Spirit of 76′. As well … Read more