🌎 Four Cool Instruments from Around the World

The hunt for great orchestral colors can be so captivating that sometimes we forget about all of the wonderful colors that exist outside of orchestral music.

I want to share with you some of my favorite instruments from around the world that I’ve used over the years in my music. I challenge you to find one that sparks excitement in you, and use it in a piece of your own 🙂

Dulcimer/Santoor (Persia)

Dulcimers come in all shapes and sizes, but I’ve always had an affinity to the Persian santoor. It has a beautiful rich sound due to each note having four strings for resonation—much like a piano uses 2-3 strings per note.

Qudi Flute (China)

I use this flute in my music more than any other flute from around the world. It has a bright, chipper quality to it, allowing it to sing straight through an orchestra with ease.

Uilleann Pipes (Ireland)

Unlike the bagpipes, uilleann pipes lack some of the “honk-y” quality, instead leaning towards an expressive reeded sound—almost like a cross between a bagpipe and an english horn. John Powell used them frequently in his How to Train Your Dragon scores, and so do I 🙂

Baglama Guitar (Turkey)

Turkish music has some fascinating scales and rhythmic, as well as exciting instruments like the baglama. I had the privilege of hiring a baglama player a few years back, and the technique used in its performance is really one-of-a-kind. Baglama features lots of intricate ornamentation, and a resonance that almost reminds me of a banjo.