How Odd Can Musical Instruments Get?

Sound (and hence music) is basically created by vibrating air. Different musical instruments create sounds differently, and thus have different playing methods. Most if not all instruments fall in the following categories:

1. Plucked Strings (eg. guitar, harp, zither)
2. Bow Strings (essentially friction, eg. violin, cello)
3. Struck Strings (eg. dulcimer, piano)
4. Edge-blown (eg. flutes, ocarinas, pipe organ)
5. Buzzing Lips (eg. trumpet, horns, didgeridu)
6. Single Reed (eg. clarinet, saxophone)
7. Double Reed (eg. oboe, bagpipes)
8. Percussion

Of course, these playing methods can be applied in many ways, for example, plucked string instruments can take the form of the Indian sitar, the Chinese zither, harps, lutes, guitars, banjos, etc. As a result, some inventive people have created their own unusual musical instruments.

Welcome to the Odd Music Gallery: http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/index.html

Here you will find anything from ancient musical instruments to experimental pieces. Here are some interesting finds:

Aeolian Wind Harp - an ancient Greek instrument. I want one of those!
Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall Organ - world's largest organ - and loudest too!
Glass Armonica - invented by Ben Franklin himself! With Mozart joining the fun!
Hang - what the hang?? No hang ups on this percussion instrument. Wonderful invention!
Sea Organ - an organ played by the sea?? Partly architecture, partly musical instrument.