World Music
Everything published on Viyolens under World Music — reviews, buying advice and how-tos written for players and producers in the UK.
Cumbia for Newcomers: Where to Start
You don't need to learn a family tree of subgenres before you start — here's a genuinely simple listening path into cumbia, no homework required.
The Complete Guide to Handpan Drums
Handpan drums are melodic percussion instruments played with hands. Learn tunings, playing technique, and how to choose quality handmade instruments.
Nose Flute: A Complete Buyer's Guide
From budget plastic to traditional bamboo, this buyer's guide tells you exactly what to look for in a nose flute — and what the marketing won't tell you.
The Complete Guide to Steel Pan Instrument
The steel pan instrument evolved from Caribbean oil drums into a sophisticated orchestral percussion instrument, producing warm, resonant tones with remarkable expressive potential in ensemble and sol...
The Ultimate Guide to Musical Instruments Bongo Drums
Bongo drums are hand percussion instruments central to Latin and Afro-Cuban music. This guide covers construction, playing technique, tuning and how to learn authentic bongo rhythms.
Essential Bhangra Albums Explained
A tidy top-ten doesn't quite fit this genre's real history. Here's an honest way into its recorded legacy, by artist and era rather than a countdown.
Common Jaw Harp Mistakes to Avoid
Four technique mistakes that hold most beginners back, with specific, practical fixes for each — covering grip, pluck force, mouth shaping and tongue care.
Cajon Explained: Features, Types and Tips
A box-shaped percussion instrument struck with the hands, the cajon produces bass, tone, slap and snap tones from a simple wooden box. Here is how it works.
The Complete Guide to Roots Reggae
Roots reggae captures reggae at its most spiritually profound and politically uncompromising—celebrating African heritage, Rastafarian philosophy and conscious lyrics that inspire global musicians.
The Best Enka Songs Right Now
The best way into enka is through specific songs — recordings that show exactly what the genre does and why nothing else does it quite the same way.
A Beginner's Guide to Enka
Enka is Japan's most emotionally direct popular genre — built on melismatic vocals, nostalgia-soaked lyrics and lush studio arrangements that have endured for decades.
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Bagpipes
Bagpipes are powerful traditional instruments with strong regional identities, used across Scottish, Irish and wider fol...
Bodhran
Find bodhrans for folk, Celtic and acoustic performance with the warm tone of a traditional Irish frame drum.
Cajon
Portable box drum with bass and snare tones, ideal for acoustic gigs, rehearsal spaces and compact percussion setups.
3 topics
Didgeridoo
Resonant Australian drone instrument with powerful sustained tone, circular breathing and distinctive rhythmic effects.
1 topic
Djembe
Djembes offer a lively hand-played sound with strong bass and sharp tones, suited to lessons, sessions and performance.
Maracas
Maracas add bright rhythmic texture and easy-to-use percussion colour for studio, school and live performance.
2 topics
Pan Flute
The pan flute delivers a warm, airy tone for folk, world and solo music, with a distinctive sound and simple layout.
Percussion Instruments
Percussion instruments add rhythm, texture and colour across live, studio and educational settings for UK musicians.
