| Those of us in western civilizations are | | | | unique string instrument is the Veena from |
| accustomed to a large variety of instruments. | | | | southern India. This instrument has resonance |
| However, there are many types of instruments | | | | chambers at each end. The Veena (also called |
| that you will never see in any orchestra. They | | | | Vina) is somewhat like a lute and has a sound like |
| are, however, worth your consideration, both for | | | | a very mellow sitar.There is one type of |
| their uniqueness of structure, but of sound.One of | | | | instrument that you may already have and not |
| the things that I really wanted to do in Borneo | | | | realize it. That is the rain stick. It is made of a |
| was bring home a number of the stringed | | | | hollow tube of wood - often bamboo - with beeds |
| instruments that I saw in the shops of Kuching, | | | | or seeds in it. You tip it back and forth to make a |
| Sarawak - the sape. But, I did not have enough | | | | soothing sound.Another type of instrument that is |
| money at the time.The sape or sapeh is a guitar | | | | commonly taken home without thinking of it as |
| type instrument shaped somewhat more like a | | | | being a musical instrument is the thumb piano or |
| lute. It normally has four strings, but occaisionally | | | | kalimba. These strange instruments are made by |
| has 3 or 5.Several of the tribes in Borneo use this | | | | attaching strips of metal into a sounding board. |
| instrument. I saw one man in the Sarawak | | | | These are then plucked in a downward motion of |
| Cultural Village that made them. He gave us a | | | | the thumb to make a tone. They are different |
| short concert that was simply enchanting.The | | | | sizes so that a melody can be played.Something |
| sound that was much more common in our | | | | that I've tried to play a couple of times is the |
| travels in Sarawak was the combination of brass | | | | didgeridoo. I would love to become adept at |
| gongs and drums. The gongs are sold by Chinese | | | | playing this unique instrument. It is basically just a |
| traders up and down the rivers and so at least | | | | tube that the Australian aborigines use to produce |
| one set is found in every longhouse. A set of | | | | a delightfully soulful sound by blowing in it. This one |
| these gongs would be a good addition to any | | | | definitely goes in the rhythm section because |
| musical instrument collection.Musical instruments | | | | there is not really any tune possible.Drums come |
| are typically found in three different groups - | | | | in all shapes and sizes and make noise in more |
| string, wind, and percussion. They can be further | | | | ways than you can imagine. You could make a |
| divided by the type of material they are made of | | | | very interesting collection just of these |
| and whether they are designed to play melody or | | | | instruments.You may not decide to make a large |
| for rhythm.One unique string instrument that | | | | collection of unique musical instruments, but you |
| would make a great collectors item would be the | | | | should definitely put them on your list of things to |
| gopichand. This unique instrument has a single | | | | consider bringing home.Our family has traveled on |
| string and it is held tight by two strips of bamboo. | | | | every continent in the world. You |
| The bamboo is then squeezed together to change | | | | will want to read about our adventures at I |
| the tone of the note. It is typically used for | | | | Love Travel Vacations. |
| rhythm. This intrument is from Bengal.Another | | | | |