5 Weird Instruments Inspired by the Piano 

History & Creation:

The Wheelharp is a modern reinvention of the mechanical bowed keyboard, inspired by the hurdy-gurdy and early keyboard instruments. It was designed by Jon Jones, an American musician and instrument maker, in the early 2010s. His goal was to create an instrument that combined the expressiveness of a bowed string ensemble with the playability of a piano keyboard.

Who Made It Famous:

Jon Jones himself popularized the Wheelharp, performing with it extensively in contemporary and experimental music circles. The instrument gained attention due to its haunting, ethereal sound, often described as a blend between a string orchestra and a choir.

When First Created:

The Wheelharp prototype was first completed and publicly demonstrated around 2010–2012.

Current Use:

Today, the Wheelharp is used primarily by avant-garde and experimental musicians seeking new textures and atmospheres. It appears in modern classical compositions, film soundtracks, and ambient music.

General Musical Contribution:

The Wheelharp extends the sonic possibilities of keyboard instruments by producing sustained bowed tones controlled by keys. This creates a new hybrid between stringed and keyboard instruments, opening avenues for composers and performers to explore continuous, expressive timbres that are hard to achieve on traditional pianos.

History & Creation:

Invented in 1947 by the French engineer Constant Martin, the Clavioline is one of the first electronic keyboard instruments. It uses vacuum tube circuitry to generate sound and features a small keyboard with a monophonic output. Its design was revolutionary for its time, bridging acoustic keyboards and synthesizers.

Who Made It Famous:

The Clavioline gained wide recognition through its use in early rock and pop recordings. Most famously, it features in Del Shannon’s 1961 hit "Runaway," where it produced the signature lead melody.

When First Created:

It was created in the post-war period, with production starting around 1947.

Current Use:

Although largely obsolete in commercial production, vintage Claviolines are prized by collectors and experimental musicians who value its distinctive, nasal electronic tone. It remains a seminal instrument in the history of electronic music.

General Musical Contribution:

The Clavioline paved the way for modern synthesizers by demonstrating how electronic circuits could be controlled by a keyboard. Its distinctive tone influenced early electronic music and showed that new timbres could be achieved outside acoustic instruments.

History & Creation:

Developed in the 1950s by French brothers Bernard and François Baschet, the Cristal Baschet is a unique musical instrument made of glass rods and metal components. The musician plays the glass rods by rubbing them with wet fingers, producing haunting and ethereal sounds.

Who Made It Famous:

The Baschet brothers’ instruments became famous in avant-garde and contemporary music circles. They were used by experimental musicians and featured in soundtracks and contemporary classical music.

When First Created:

The Cristal Baschet was invented in 1952.

Current Use:

It remains a niche instrument used primarily in experimental and contemporary classical music, with a few ensembles and soloists specializing in it.

General Musical Contribution:

The Cristal Baschet expanded the palette of timbres available to musicians, introducing a new type of sound production that combines tactile interaction and acoustics. It helped inspire the exploration of new materials and methods in musical instrument design.

History & Creation:

The Toy Piano originated in the mid-19th century as a children’s instrument, first produced by the Schoenhut Piano Company in the United States. It uses metal rods struck by small hammers instead of strings, creating a distinctly bell-like tone.

Who Made It Famous:

Composer John Cage famously embraced the Toy Piano as a serious musical instrument in the 1940s, composing works that highlighted its unique sound and timbral possibilities.

When First Created:

Toy pianos became commercially available in the late 1800s.

Current Use:

The toy piano is now both a children’s instrument and a legitimate tool in contemporary classical and experimental music. It’s used in concerts and recordings to add a playful, innocent timbre.

General Musical Contribution:

The toy piano challenged traditional ideas of musical instrumentation by showing that even “toys” could produce expressive and complex music. It broadened the spectrum of keyboard sounds and inspired many composers to explore unconventional sound sources.

History & Creation:

The piano accordion, developed in the late 19th century, combines a keyboard similar to a piano with a free-reed bellows-driven mechanism. It was developed mainly in Italy and Germany, evolving from earlier button accordions.

Who Made It Famous:

The instrument gained popularity worldwide, especially in folk, popular, and classical crossover music. Virtuosos such as Pietro Deiro helped popularize the piano accordion in the early 20th century.

When First Created:

The first piano accordions appeared in the 1880s.

Current Use:

It remains widely used in folk music traditions across Europe and the Americas and has found a place in some contemporary classical compositions.

General Musical Contribution:

The piano accordion bridges keyboard and wind instrument techniques, enabling rich harmonic and melodic textures combined with dynamic control through bellows. It expanded the versatility of keyboard instruments and contributed to the diversity of world music traditions.