Musical Instruments

Musical Instruments

A fairly old instrument that is still in use today is the theremin. It has a particular design that is different from any other instrument around and is played much more differently then other instruments in circulation today. The theremin is an electronic musical instrument that is played using electrical fields. When it was first introduced, society was shocked to see this instrument that could be played without even touching it. The theremin is tuned so that it has a range of three and a half octaves. The theremin's operation is based on the theory of beat frequencies. The instrument also has a peculiar look to it as well. Two antennas stick out on each side of the theremin. A vertical antenna is also located on the right which controls the pitch. The closer the players hand is, the higher the pitch. The further away the player’s hand is, the lower the pitch is. A horizontal loop antenna is located on the left and controls the volume. The closer the hand is, the louder the volume.

The theremin was patented in 1928 by Leon Theremin. The theremin has not escaped its original status as a novelty instrument. Most people have heard the theremin, even though they may not recognize it. The theremin is frequently featured in sci-fi films, particularly classic ones. It is not as famous today but it has featured in recent movies such as Mars Attacks and Ed Wood. (History of the Theremin, Moog)

The theremin was invented in 1921 by Leon Theremin. It is one of the most important musical instruments of the twentieth century because it is the first electronic instrument. Leon Theremin first came up with the idea for the theremin when in high school. He noticed depending on how close a person stands to a Tesla coi...

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...o the classical guitar, the Ud’s strings are generally lighter to play. The ancient ud had four courses for tuning systems. The second characteristic is the pegbox. To provide the necessary tension to keep the pegs from slipping, the pegbox of the ud is bent back at an angle ranging from forty five to ninety degrees. The actual body of the ud resembles a watermelon: it has a staved, bowl like back which differs greatly from the flat backed guitar. The bowl shape of the ud allows the ud to resonate and have a much more complex tone. The fourth and final characteristic of the ud is the sound holes. The amount of holes varies between one to three holes. The holes can be either circular or oval and are decorated. Decorations are typically a bone or wood carved rosette. The four defining characteristics help the ud to deliver the sound and enjoyment that the ud creates.