Some musicians are content working with familiar and proven instruments that provide predictable but reliable results. Others, however, grow beyond the convention. They seek to make sounds that could never have been heard before. Over time, musicians and instrument manufacturers have experienced new materials and conceptions that sometimes lead to revolutionary inventions, and sometimes make quirks that push the limits of what we consider music.

These strange instruments challenge our way of thinking about the creation of music. Some have found their way in consumer music, but others remain niche curiosities that are waiting to be explored by adventurous composers and music producers.

In this article, we dive into ten of the strangest instruments ever created. Some are imbued with tradition and others are futuristic experiences. All show to what extent the musicians will go in search of new sounds.

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Create strange instruments: musicians as innovators

The need for new sounds is a music constant. As genres evolve, we, artists and producers, are looking for new ways to capture our artistic visions. Sometimes we just want to surprise our audience. This is why we can spend hours creating the perfect synth patch, why orchestral composers experience extensive techniques and why some experimental musicians build personalized instruments from zero.

Some of the most famous innovations in the history of music began as strange niche ideas. The electric guitar, the synthesizer and the drum were once considered as radical differences in relation to traditional instruments. Today, they define whole genres.

Let’s take a look at some of the most unique instruments of all time.