How the bladder fiddle makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the bladder fiddle belongs to the lutes: strings run parallel to a soundboard and along a neck – the family of the guitar, violin, sitar and oud.
More broadly it is one of the chordophones (string instruments), where sound comes from vibrating strings, amplified by a resonating body.
Its timbre – the colour that lets you tell it apart from other instruments playing the same note – comes from the mix of overtones its body and resonator emphasise.
From Wikipedia
The bladder fiddle was a folk instrument used throughout Europe and in the Americas. The instrument was originally a simple large stringed fiddle (a musical bow) made with a long stick, one or more thick gut strings, and a pig's-bladder resonator. It was bowed with either a notched stick or a horsehair bow.
The folk instrument was historically played by "wandering musicians" and beggars up to the early 19th century. Although it may be used in serious folk music it has also been used for humor.
Other lutes
Frequently asked questions
What does a bladder fiddle sound like?
As one of the lutes, its sound comes from the way strings run parallel to a soundboard and along a neck.
What type of instrument is the bladder fiddle?
It is classified as lutes (Hornbostel–Sachs 321.321-7).
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q2407046 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Bladder fiddle – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by Printed by: François Nys. Part of supplement to "L'Art universel", published between 1873 and 1876. Part of the… – CC BY-SA 4.0