Creating Instruments

Throughout this module, you have been introduced to instruments from across the globe. You’ve learned about the characteristics of each instrument family, as well as four broader categories that address how an instrument makes sound through vibration.  Many inventions are created out of necessity. This is the same for instruments as well. When Adolph Sax wanted an instrument that had both qualities of a brass and a woodwind, he created the Saxophone: an instrument with a metal body, that has a mouthpiece similar to a clarinet, uses a reed, and has a key and fingering system similar to the clarinet and flute. 

Composers also create instruments to experiment with certain tone colors or use specific scales.  Many modern musicians such as American composer Harry Partch (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Partch) have even created entire orchestras of new and modified instruments, with their own specialized compositions. 

One example of a newly created instrument is the udderbot, a woodwind instrument created by Jacob Barton.  Barton created the udderbot out of a glass bottle with the bottom removed, rubber bands, a hose clamp, and a rubber glove that holds liquid.  The udderbot is played by squeezing the glove and blowing across the bottle’s opening, much like playing a flute.  Squeezing the glove raises and lowers the water level in the bottle, changing the pitch.  Barton wanted a way to play multiple tones on a single bottle, as opposed to a line of liquid-filled bottles that could only play a single pitch.  The name combines “udder” (the glove resembles a cow’s udder) and “bot”, a partial bottle.  Barton has not only composed new songs for his instrument, but can play pretty much any melody on the udderbot as well!  Here, we can see how the udderbot is created and hear it in action!