Unusual Instruments |  |
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Strange string instruments
The Ukulele is Hawaii’s most popular instrument after being brought to the island by a Portuguese instrument maker, Manuel Nunes. The ukulele translates into “jumping fleas” due to the abnormally fast speed of the players fingers on the strings. As well as its strange name it also makes a strange sound. It makes a shrill noise, similar to that of the banjo but very different to that of the similar looking instrument; the guitar.
Banjos are played in a similarly fast way and come in many shapes and forms. In the last 30 years, banjo-based instruments have been replacing various orchestra instruments. There is a banjo cello, banjo-bass, mandolin banjo, and banjo mandolin flourished as banjo orchestras became popular particularly among college students.
Another version of the banjo is the even odder looking Jomana. They have papier mache faces of colourful creatures attached to the top of the banjo. The Fred is another strange take on a banjo and is made from recycled grocery bags and strings made from a washing line.
The Palm Frond made by Bruce White after three years of experimenting is another strange looking string instrument. It is made from the fronds of the Coco/Queens Palms and looks like a deformed guitar.
The Bantazar was created by Mark Deutsch and it is a similar looking instrument to the bass but it has an extra 33 strings. Many of the stranger instruments are a different version of a better known instrument and some are their own type of instrument.
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