#marxophone

(via Marxophone Demo - YouTube)

To continue from my 6 interesting lesser-known instruments list from a couple of years ago, here are 8 more!

1. Laser harp

Laser harp must be one of the most unusual and far-out electronic instruments. It’s played by moving one’s hands over bright laser-shaped lights to trigger MIDI commands; protective glasses and gloves are required to play it. Jean-Michel Jarre is known to use it in most of his concerts post-1981. (Clip)

2. Fairground organ

Fairground organ (or band organ) is an automatic mechanical organ that plays songs from music rolls, which is paper with holes punched in specific spots to indicate the music’s notation, similar to a player piano. They most often provide music for carousels.

They imitate a full band in addition to the lead organ - together with the music rolls, this makes it comparable to MIDI keyboards’ capacity to emulate other instruments. In fact, many modern fairground organs use a MIDI interface instead! (Clip)

3. Qanun

Qanun is a Middle Eastern zither instrument with a somewhat haunting tone and a total of 78 (!!!) strings. (Clip)

4. Hammered dulcimer

Hammered dulcimer is a percussive string instrument played by hitting the strings with mallets; the resulting sound is often sinister and medieval. (Clip)

5. Marxophone

Marxophone is a fretless zither with similarities to piano and hammered dulcimer. The player presses the small grey levers to make them rapidly strike the strings. (Clip)

6. Tonbak

Tonbak is a prominent drum in Persian music. It can be played through direct full-handed hits, knocks, hitting the sides or edges and rapid finger-tapping. (Clip)

7. Clavichord

Clavichord is a European keyboard similar to harpsichord and closely predating the clavinet. (Clip)

8. Daff

the module i'm working with is the official 5e book Out of The Abyss, an adventure that takes place in the Underdark (i.e. spooky cave world). i'm playing with some of my pals irl, so i get to use figurines and minis and whiteboards and stuff. works very well for me. plus we can all share snacks!

my players are as follows:

Petrichor, Warforged Cleric

A big ol' robot powered by religion and magic, created and played by my talented pal @marxophone. A caring soul who tends to be a bit oblivious to danger. He once tried to lead a revolt against corruption in his church, and was dumped into the sea for his crimes.

Oreleth Diamondwillow, Elf Ranger

@cleveranddriven is the one responsible for this hot mess of an elf. She can befriend just about any animal but struggles to talk to other people, often speaking bluntly or not at all. She recently acquired a pseudodragon friend.

Az... Azhali Suzuhali Sz... Ss... ummm... he's a Yuan-ti Wizard

Mother fucker, I forgot to get a copy of the character sheet. My friend Liam (who has no tumblr) made up a half-snake merchant with a long ass snake name that I'm going to have to learn how to say and spell. Anyway he's the newest player. He's polite and well-spoken and seems competent enough, but what are his intentions, and who is he really?

I tell you what I sure am gay for the Robot Devil 👀💦👌🔥🔥🔥