Friday, October 17, 2008

Top 5 most difficult instruments to play

Get a free didgeridoo or a free french horn

Didgeridoo
Requires continuously vibrating lips and the employment of a special breathing technique known as circular breathing - taking in air through the nose whilst breathing out using the tongue and cheeks – to create the typical drone sound.

French Horn
Widely considered to be the most challenging instrument to master in an orchestra. The French horn requires breath to be controlled through up to 20 feet of narrow tubing using valves controlled by the left hand, and adjusting the position of the lips on the mouthpiece to control pitch. The right hand is moved inside the bell to lower the pitch.

Theremin
The first musical instrument to be played without being touched, the Theremin requires a steady hand to control pitch: two antennae sense the position of the player’s hands to control frequency with one hand and volume with the other.

Pikasso Guitar
Built over two years for jazz artist Pat Methany, the Pikasso consists of 42 strings, three necks and two sound holes.

Ancient Greek Aulos
Discovered by a satyr in Greek Mythology, the aulos was so difficult to play the musician’s cheeks were fastened with a leather strap to prevent them from bursting.


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