Couesnophone

The couesnophone is a member of the free reeds and interruptive aerophones (Hornbostel–Sachs 412.132). Learn how it makes its sound and explore related instruments.

How the couesnophone makes its sound

In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the couesnophone belongs to the free reeds and interruptive aerophones: air is periodically interrupted by a vibrating reed or blade – the accordion, harmonica, sheng and bullroarer.

More broadly it is one of the aerophones (wind instruments), where sound comes from vibrating air.

Press play above and watch the spectrum: the evenly spaced peaks are harmonics, and their relative strength is what gives the instrument its character.

From Wikipedia

The couesnophone, also known as the goofus or queenophone, is a free-reed musical instrument in a saxophone shape, patented by French instrument manufacturer Couesnon in 1924. Its reeds vibrate when the desired keys are activated and the player blows through a tube. It has been described as a type of mouth-blown accordion, with a sound somewhere between that of a harmonica and an accordion.