World Instruments
Everything published on Viyolens under World Instruments — reviews, buying advice and how-tos written for players and producers in the UK.
The Complete Guide to Harp Guitar
The harp guitar fuses guitar and harp traditions into a unique hybrid instrument offering sonorities impossible on conventional guitars. Perfect for adventurous fingerstyle players and composers seeki...
Koto: A Complete Buyer's Guide
A good koto is judged by its wood, its bridges and how honestly every string responds — here's exactly what to check before you buy.
Harmonica Explained: Features, Types and Tips
The harmonica is a free-reed instrument played in folk, blues, country, and rock. Understanding its main types — diatonic, chromatic, tremolo — and how positions and bending work is the foundation for...
Sitar Electric: A Complete Buyer's Guide
An electric sitar bridges traditional Indian classical music with modern amplification. This guide covers electric sitar types, pickup systems, price ranges, and practical buying advice for different...
The Ultimate Guide to Hang Drum Musical Instrument
The hang drum instrument is a handcrafted percussion marvel that produces warm, bell-like tones when struck with hands. Created in Switzerland in 2000, it has become beloved by world musicians and med...
The Best Tabla Drummings for the Money
The shiniest advert rarely matches the drum that actually suits where you are in your playing. Here's an honest tier-by-tier guide.
The Ultimate Guide to Hang Music Instrument
The Hang was one Swiss company's own instrument; the handpan is the whole family it inspired. Here's the real history and how it actually works.
Common Cuatro Mistakes to Avoid
None of these mistakes mean you're doing anything wrong — just the quiet, common ways this instrument asks to be understood a little differently.
Cuatro: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Buying well here is about matching the instrument to the music, not spending more. A grounded, practical guide to choosing a cuatro.
Erhu: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Two strings, no fingerboard and a bow threaded between them — buying an erhu doesn't have to feel like guesswork. Here's exactly what to check first.
The Best Guzhengs for the Money
No fake tests, just an honest look at what separates student, intermediate and professional guzhengs, and which suits where you actually are as a player.
Common Koto Mistakes to Avoid
The koto asks for a particular kind of patience — here are the mistakes that most often get in the way of it, told kindly.
The Best Hang Music Instruments for the Money
There's no single best handpan — only the right tier for your experience, patience for a waiting list, and the playing style you actually want.
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Balalaika
The balalaika is a triangular Russian folk instrument with a bright tone, several sizes and a distinctive acoustic voice...
Didgeridoo
Resonant Australian drone instrument with powerful sustained tone, circular breathing and distinctive rhythmic effects.
1 topic
Erhu
The erhu is a distinctive two-string bowed instrument valued for its lyrical, expressive sound.
Harmonica
Harmonicas are compact, expressive instruments ideal for folk, blues and acoustic performance.
Kalimba
Kalimba instruments are compact thumb pianos with a soft, melodic tone, ideal for beginners and atmospheric playing.
2 topics
Koto
Koto is a traditional Japanese plucked zither with a refined tone, used in classical, ensemble and modern world music.
Ocarina
Compact vessel flute with a clear, haunting tone and simple, portable appeal.
Sitar
Iconic South Asian plucked instrument with ringing resonance, bends and rich sympathetic strings.
1 topic
