Music has been humming through human history since the dawn of recorded time, and the world of sound is packed with some truly odd creations. In this top 10 bizarre countdown we’ll spotlight the most unusual musical instruments you rarely see today, from ancient stringed wonders to massive war horns.
Top 10 Bizarre: Crwth (Bowed Lyre)
The first contender is the crwth—sometimes called a bowed lyre, crowd, rote, or crotta—a Welsh stringed marvel that likely first appeared in the 11th century.
Imagine a boxy instrument with a flat fingerboard and six strings of varying thicknesses. Players would press the lower end against their chest and strap the instrument around their neck, essentially turning a larger violin with a flat, roomy body into a medieval crowd‑pleaser. It enjoyed centuries of popularity alongside the harp and timpan in Wales.
Only four original crwths survive today, safely housed in museums: St. Fagans National Museum of History (Cardiff), the National Library of Wales (Aberystwyth), Warrington Museum & Art Gallery, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, USA. Modern replicas exist, but the ancient instrument has largely been eclipsed by harps, guitars, violins and other contemporary strings.
9. Cajón
Next up is the cajón, a box‑shaped percussion instrument with a rear hole that’s played by slapping the front or back panels, sometimes with mallets or drumsticks.
Born in early‑19th‑century Peru, its origins are debated. One story says it evolved from African box drums brought by slaves; another suggests Peruvian laborers turned their cargo boxes into impromptu drums during breaks.
Regardless of its birth, the cajón became a staple of Afro‑Peruvian music and has since found niche use in flamenco and jazz, though it remains a rarity outside those circles.
8. Sambuca (Hurdy‑Gurdy)
The sambuca, also known as a hurdy‑gurdy, traces its roots back to ancient Greece as a tiny, triangular harp with a piercing tone.
- Eusebius credited the Troglodytae (cave‑goers) with its invention.
- Athenaeus claimed a man named Sambyx gave it his name.
- Polybius likened it to a rope ladder, while others saw a boat shape.
Because it hails from such distant times, fact and folklore intertwine. The name also describes a medieval hand‑cranked string instrument and a woodwind fashioned from a Sambucus tree, cementing its reputation as one of the most mysterious and bizarre instruments ever recorded.
7. Nyckelharpa
The nyckelharpa—Swedish for “key harp”—emerged in the 14th century and quickly became Sweden’s national instrument.
Visually akin to a fiddle, it distinguishes itself by marrying keys with strings. While early versions boasted an uncertain number of strings, modern models can feature up to 16 strings and 37 keys, creating a richly complex soundscape.
Players hold it like a violin, using a neck strap, while the right arm steadies the instrument. Though its original design faded over time, the nyckelharpa has evolved and remains a celebrated emblem of Swedish musical heritage.
6. Sarangi
Originating from India, the sarangi stands out for its eerie tonal palette—often likened to a cat’s meow or a human voice.
It’s a rectangular wooden box equipped with three strings and three sound chambers, each cloaked in goat skin. Musicians can bow the strings like a violin or pluck them, and the resonant chambers give the instrument its haunting, almost creepy character.
Held and played like a miniature cello, the sarangi rests on the player’s knees. Invented in 1865, it remains a rare sight outside India, cherished for its unique timbre.
5. Erhu
The erhu, a Chinese two‑stringed marvel, dates back over three millennia and boasts a deceptively simple yet bizarre construction.
Its slender stick‑like neck supports a small wooden resonator covered in python skin. Two silk (traditionally) strings are tuned via pegs at the top, while a built‑in bow—made of wood or bamboo and strung with horsehair—slides between the strings, allowing the player to produce its distinctive, emotive sound.
The erhu’s unique timbre has been showcased in countless recordings, offering listeners a glimpse into one of China’s oldest musical traditions.
4. Gue
The gue hails from Scotland’s Shetland Islands, though it has nearly vanished from the historical record.
Described as a two‑stringed instrument resembling a violin or lyre, it was played more like a cello, cradled on the performer’s lap. The sole surviving account comes from Arthur Edmondston’s early‑19th‑century work, “View of the Ancient and Present State of the Zetland Islands.” Modern attempts to recreate the gue exist, but scant information leaves much to speculation.
3. Lituus
The lituus wasn’t crafted for pleasure; it served as a battlefield horn designed to intimidate and signal troops.
Its most striking feature is its monumental length—stretching 8 to 10 feet (2.4 to 3 meters)—making it a true logistical challenge to wield.
Johann Sebastian Bach incorporated the lituus into a composition, but beyond that, it faded into obscurity. Modern scientists have reconstructed versions, yet the original design remains largely a mystery, likely due to its unwieldy size.
2. Duduk
The duduk, dating back to at least the 5th century, originated in Armenia and spread across the Middle East and Caucasus.
This double‑reed instrument traditionally used bone, though contemporary models favor apricot wood. Its reed is larger than those of oboes or bassoons, producing a mournful, horn‑like timbre.
Uniquely, duduks are typically played in pairs: one musician handles the melody while the other maintains a steady “dum” beat. Though seldom seen today, the duduk remains a treasured pillar of Armenian cultural heritage.
1. Cimbalom
Rounding out our list is the cimbalom, a Hungarian marvel from the Middle Ages that boasts the most strings of any instrument here—up to 125.
Its strings are organized into clusters of three, four, or five, each set tuned to specific pitches. Musicians strike the strings with soft mallets, while bridges segment the strings to expand playable notes.
Unlike many ancient instruments, the cimbalom’s strings are metal, and it lies horizontally like a piano. It paved the way for numerous dulcimer family members, cementing its status as a complex and bizarre musical powerhouse.