Watch Some Of The Strangest Musical Instruments Ever Built In Action

We’re used to seeing a wide variety of instruments, from the tiny piccolo to the grand piano, but every now and then, someone designs an instrument so magnificent or unusual that it takes a while to wrap our brains around them. So what do they sound like? And how exactly do you play them?

The otamatone, designed by Maywa Denki for the Japanese Cube Works company

Glass harmonica (or armonica), invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1762

Theorbo (or Thiorba), a lute with an extended neck and a second pegbox, developed in Italy around the late 16th century

The hyperblass flute, the largest flute ever built, with almost 50 ft (15 m) long tubing. It is made of PVC and wood, and was invented by the Italian flutist Roberto Fabbriciani

The Dactilófono, created by Les Luthiers, an Argentine music parody group in 1967

Pikasso guitar, a guitar with 42 strings and four necks, created by Linda Manzer for Pat Metheny between 1982 and 1984

Wheelharp, a keyboard-operated string instrument with spinning wheels and a foot-controlled motor

Theremin, the magical instrument that works without physical contact, invented by the Russian inventor Leon Theremin in 1920

Daxophone, an experimental instrument invented by Hans Reichel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb23PNogJ0M

The crank-turned Hurdy-gurdy, originated from fiddles around the 11th century

The contrabass balalaika, a Russian folk instrument developed in the late 17th century

The American Fotoplayer, a mix of bells, drums, organ pipes, a piano, among others. About 8-12,000 were made, but now only 50 are left, and 12 are known to be in a working order.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0JZszqC7mk