Can Musicians Invent or Modify Their Own Instruments?

Photo by Karim MANJRA on Unsplash

Artistic innovation tends to come from experimentation. As well as experimenting with musical form and structure, many musicians throughout history have also been drawn to experimenting with modifying and transforming instruments themselves to create bold new sounds. In this guide, we’ll look at some of the things you need to consider before attempting instrument modifications, and explore some examples of successful musicians who have modified their instruments — or even invented entirely new ones.

Modifying Your Own Instruments

If you’re thinking of modifying your own instruments, there are a few steps you should take before you dive in. While the specifics will vary between different instruments, these basic concepts are likely to apply whether you’re modifying a kazoo or a clavichord.

The first thing to do is familiarise yourself with your instrument’s structure and mechanics— it’s hard to modify something that you don’t understand much in the first place! Identify any areas where alterations could improve the instrument’s sound. To find modification techniques, the internet is a fantastic resource. There’s a vast array of tutorials and discussion forums out there to provide inspiration and advice.

Most modifications will require some kind of tools or supplies, from screwdrivers and soldering irons to specialised components like capacitors. Make sure you have these before you get started. To use one of the most common instrument modifications — replacing electric guitar pickups — as an example, you’ll need replacement pickups, a screwdriver, and some kind of strong glue. Epoxy glue for plastic is useful for securely attaching the pickup mounting ring to the guitar’s body. This glue can also be used for popular guitar modifications like adjusting bridges and nuts.

If you’re new to modifying musical instruments, consider starting out with simple (and ideally reversible) changes. As you gain confidence and experience, you can gradually tackle more ambitious projects. Start out with an instrument that isn’t too expensive or treasured — it’s common to make mistakes at first, and better to make them on an instrument that you don’t mind receiving damage too much. Many choose to buy a cheap second-hand instrument to start out with before attempting modifications on their favourite instruments.

Five Musicians Who Invented Instruments

Many popular musicians have modified and invented instruments. Here are five examples:

1. Les Paul
Although the name Les Paul is now world-famous for being one of the most iconic electric guitar designs, the man behind the name started out as a virtuoso on the acoustic guitar. As he performed his own country, blues, and folk songs in the 1930s and 1940s, he tinkered relentlessly with his guitars and ended up laying down the foundation for the modern electric guitar as we know it. By the early 1950s, the Gibson Les Paul was on the market, and changed popular music forever.

2. Imogen Heap
British singer-songwriter Imogen Heap is perhaps best known for the 2005 single “Hide and Seek”, a ghostly acapella ballad that uses layered harmonies digitally generated with a vocoder. Heap has also custom-built instruments like the Mi.Mu Gloves, which allow the user to create and manipulate sound using hand gestures, and the Vocal Fence, which transforms everyday objects into instruments through interactive technology.

3. Bjork
Bjork is not only a star in the entertainment world, but a name synonymous with creativity and experimentation. After becoming entranced by the sounds of the celeste (a keyboard instrument similar to a piano), Bjork decided to combine the instrument with the gamelan tonebars found in Balinese music. She commissioned a hybrid instrument called the “gameleste”, which was eventually used on her 2011 track “Crystalline” to create a unique chiming tone.

4. Tom Waits
The enigmatic and eccentric Tom Waits is renowned for his avant-garde approach to creating music, which has often included using household items as percussion. Among his creations is “the Conundrum” — a percussion instrument built from salvaged parts including kitchenware, automotive components, and industrial machinery. So far, the Conundrum has only been used on one of Waits’ tracks, 1992’s abrasive “In the Colosseum”.

5. Aphex Twin
Richard D. James — best known by his moniker Aphex Twin — is a true musical maverick who has long been associated with otherworldly musical textures and a unique, anarchic approach to sound design. From custom-built modular synthesisers to modified circuitry and hacked software, Aphex Twin’s creations have pushed electronic music into uncharted territory countless times.

A Final Note

Whether you’re a seasoned professional musician or an enthusiastic hobbyist, pushing the boundaries of your musical instruments can be enjoyable and fulfilling. If you don’t know where to start, I recommend taking inspiration from other musicians online, as well as famous musicians. You never know — you could be the next Les Paul and stumble across an invention that defines entire genres of music!

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