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