Who says music can only be made with traditional instruments like guitars, pianos, flutes, and trumpets? The musicians in this slideshow below sure wouldn't. They've managed to produce sounds from ball bearings, ping pong balls, modified video game consoles, vegetables, fish, footwear, and typewriters.
While the music made with these unusual instruments may not appear at the concert hall nearest you, their existence proves that music and imagination are two universal, innate human qualities.
20 Unusual Musical Instruments
20
Instruments Made of Car Parts
Car Music Project for Ford
19
iPhone Cover Bands
The Mentalists Take On "Kids" by MGMT
18
Cellular Symphonies
Stanford's Mobile Phone Orchestra Turns PDAs Into Chamber Instruments
17
Musical Fish
Researchers Develop Audio Aquarium for the Blind
16
Music from MacBooks and Salad Bowls
The Stanford Laptop Orchestra
15
Raves for Nerds
The Blip Festival Uses Nintendo and Atari Instruments
14
Gas Mask Kazoos
Creepy and Downright Diabolical Music From The Chemical Wartet
13
Carrot Clarinets
Vegetable Instruments for DIY Eco-Friendly Music-Making
12
Chip Music
Music with Old Videogame Consoles
11
Musical Junk
Ugly Noisemakers
10
Robotic Music with Ping Pong Balls & Wine Glasses
Absolut Quartet
9
Electroplankton
Musical Touch Screen Gadget as Art
8
Music From Ball Bearings
Bizarre BeatBaring Demo Proves Music Can Be Made With Anything
7
Streets That Make Music
Honda's Avenue K in California
6
Interactive Musical Pencils
Drawdio Turns Doodles Into Sound
5
Chiptune Christmas Songs
‘8 Bit Jesus' is Nerdtastic
4
Music from Fidgety Finger-Tapping
The 'Jam' Changes Nervousness to Notes
3
Musical Garbage Cans
Xylophone Bin by Dominic Wilcox
2
Music from Recycled Footwear
‘Symphony for 54 Shoes'
1
Making Music With Typewriters
TypoSonic
Related Ideas
Cyberpunk DJ Console Concepts
The Image Creates the MIDI Controller Concept
Visceral Record Turntables
Orbit Kinetic Turntable Revels in Music Through Flipping Wooden Tiles
Pocket-Sized Fidget Toy
Slider-Gamemackey Combines Retro Gaming Buttons with Fidget Puzzle Action
Modernized Portable Music Devices
The Conceptual TL-1 Music Player by Hunny Modi is Nostalgic
Playable Mini Vinyls
Mini Brands Really Works Vinyl Makes Chart-Topping Hits Collectible
Retro Music Players
ClassiPod Delivers Offline Music Playback With iPod Classic Feel
Ai-Assisted Music Sampler
T.M-4 Sampler Uses Ai to Simplify Layered Composition & Sound Separation
Memphis-Inspired Vinyl Turntables
Jexter Lim Designs the Brick Turntable Inspired by Memphis
Butter-Themed Speaker Boxes
Influencer Kits for Bose's SoundLink Plus Resemble a Kitchen Staple
AI Music Creation Tools
Suno Turns Your Ideas Into Fully Composed Songs With No Instruments
Online Music Mixers
Sprunki Game Lets You Create Unique Music Mixes With Fan-Made Mods
80s-Inspired E-Ink Gaming Consoles
The 'Ink Console' Offers a Series of Text-Driven Adventures
Stackable Modular Synths
The 3tonic Synth Concept Lets Musicians Build Chords Piece by Piece
Collectible Mini Records
MGA’s Miniverse Real Music Line Isn't Just for Display
Modular Puzzle Speakers
Merge Speaker Concept Separates Music into Rearrangeable Sound Modules
Nostalgic 90s-Inspired Gaming Consoles
Analogue 3D Funtastic Consoles Come in a Rainbow of Colors
Playful Music Collabs
The Loog x Hello Kitty Guitars Bring Iconic Charm to Beginner Instruments
Modern Physical Digital Players
The Conceptual A Cartridge-Based Audio Player Ensa
Musical Chicken Bucket Lids
KFC Canada Unveiled a Bucket Lid that Play Christmas Carols
AI Music Tools
AIMusicGen.ai Converts Ideas Into Custom AI-Generated Songs
Nostalgic Gaming Devices
The Playdate Handheld Console Reimagines Retro Gameplay with Modernity
Futuristic Imaginative Design Concepts
Toyota Introduces the Unique E-Collection of Products
Digital Drumstick Pets
A Viral 90s Toy Inspired KFC's Handheld Virtual Eduardochi
Virtual Flavor Simulators
Researchers Developed a Device to Stimulate Taste in Virtual Worlds
AI-Powered Guitar Pick Concepts
Piek is a Conceptual Instrument Learning Tool by Haneul Kang
Technologically Enhanced Electronic Handbags
Nik Bentel Studio Debuts the Speaker Bag & Mixer Bag
3D-Printed Carbon Cellos
The 3D-Printed Carbon Fiber Cello is a Durable Concept Instrument
Novel Acoustic Guitar Models
C.F. Martin & Co. Debuts Four Models Ahead of the 2026 NAMM Show
Industrial Translucent Gaming Controllers
This Sony Game Controller Concept is Futuristic
Biological Material Game Controllers
A Team of Designers Dream up the BioHybrid Device Controller
Unexpected Boundary-Pushing Chairs
Marco Segovia Presents the Atypical Chair Concept
Object-Resembling USB Drives
Sandisk Whimsical USB-C Drives Turn Storage into Playful Accessories
Art Gallery Turntables
Audio-Technica Turntable Concept Treats Vinyl Playback as Art Display
Interactive Sound Installations
Daily Tous Les Jours Boasts Musical Hotline for Strange Times
Rolling Pentagonal Speaker Systems
The 'Pentatonic' Foldable Speaker Concept is Adaptable
AI Text-to-Music Tools
Eleven Music Generates Studio-Grade Tracks Safe for Commercial Use
Screen-Free Music Toys
Loops Lab Lowers the Barrier of Entry to Music Creation
Gesture Music Instruments
The Tembo Instrument Turns Touch and Movement into Intuitive Sound
Otamatone Sheet Music Guides
Learn Otamatone with Simple, Numbered Sheet Music Practice
Coffee Ground Music Boxes
The Conceptual 'Snowie' Christmas Music Box is Minimalist
Illusory Floating Turntables
The Audio-Technica Hotaru Turntable Has a Floating Upper
Hybrid Camera Headphones
The MusicCam Concept Blends Bone-Conduction Audio with Built-In 2k Video
Creative Music-Based Campaigns
Bose Launched its 'Life Deserves Music. Music Deserves Bose.' Spot
Touchscreen Grand Pianos
The Porochista Piano Integrates a 20-Inch Touchscreen
Ring-Style DJ Gear
The Tuno Ring-Shaped DJ Controller That Shrunk a Deck Into a Donut
Interactive Educational Toy Lines
LeapFrog Debuts Its Latest Collection at Toy Fair 2025
Retro Audio Cabinets
Arcade Game-Shaped Cabinet by Love Hultén Plays Vinyl and Cassette Tapes
Sculptural Modern Turntable Concepts
Amuni Studio Creates the Hybrid Turntable Concept
Intuitive Magnetic Music Makers
The Musical Beings 'Tembo' Encourages Music Play
Children-Forward Guitar Companies
Gibson and Loog Debut Small-Scale Electric Guitars
Art-Transformed Home Products
Jeff Koons' Balloon Dog Sculptures are Now a Light and Speaker
Music-Centric Holiday Campaigns
Yamaha is Running the Cheerful 'Unwrap Expression' Campaign
Toy-Inspired Music-Themed Workshops
The LEGO Group Launches Its Final Creativity Workshop of 2025
Conceptual Speaker Series
The Yamaha Sail and Butterfly Speakers Reimagine How Sound Takes Shape
Colorful Dynamic Acoustic Playgrounds
Yuri Suzuki Designs the Otonomori Playground in Shanghai
AI Music Creators
Generate Original Songs Easily with Free AI Song Generator
Build-Your-Own Sound Sculptures
UTOOTO Invites Collective Creation of Interactive Audio Structures
Anniversary-Celebrating Guitar Manufacturing Divisions
Yamaha Corporation Marks 60 Years of Craft
AI Music Generators
AI Song Maker Turns Text and Lyrics into Royalty-Free Music
Rigged Claw Machines
PAIN by Uncommon Studio Makes a Statement on Unattainable Desires
Portable Music Samplers
Akai Professional Launches MPC Sample Standalone Beat-Making Device
Mix-and-Match Scented Bracelets
Jelly Bands Simplify Jewelry-Making with Snappable Beads
Compact Key-Fob Consoles
The Playfob Reimagines Car Access as an Adorable Handheld Gaming
Retro Cartridge Jukebox
Pokémon Red & Blue Game Music Collection: Game Boy Jukebox Revives 8-Bits
Instant Music Sketchbooks
Everglow Ai Music Sketchbook Captures Ideas Before They Disappear
AI Audio-to-Music Tools
MusicMaker's AI Platform Converts Voice Recordings into Full Compositions
Delightfully Playful Music Devices
SHINKOGEISHA Designs the Bright Anomalo Radio
AI Music Generators
Transforms Text Into Professional Songs in Seconds
Mindful Meditative Soundscape Systems
The 'Sonic Heirloom' Offers Digital and Analog Benefits
Mobile Retro-Inspired Consoles
The Atari Gamestation Go Plays Classics in a Portable Format
Screen-Free Audio Toys
Qubitunes Helps Kids Create Their Own Audio Adventures
Portable Music Controllers
The MIDI Controller Concept Introduces a Compact All-In-One Setup
Sleek Audio Bag Designs
Nik Bentel Debuts the Speaker Bag and Mixer Bag as a Playful Experiment
Desktop Display Gadgets
Minitoo Retro Pc Style Device Combines Alarm Clock, Speaker, and Display
AI Music Contests
Reply's Contest is a Significant Intersection of Technology and Creative Arts
Modular Music Controller
The Synth Modular Controller Treats Music Making Like Block Building
Heritage Sound Playgrounds
Hornscape Playground transforms play into a musical experience
Ornamental Functional Furniture
Bells and Whistles Collection by Kiki Goti Reframes Embellishments
Retro Audio Collections
Philips Moving Sound Lineup Includes Speakers, Earbuds, & Headphones
Geometric Foldable Speaker Concepts
The Pentatonic Speaker is a Foldable Concept
AI-Generated Music Albums
Renowned Artists Collaborated on The Eleven Album by ElevenLabs
Futuristic Museum Exhibitions
The Unnatural History Museum of Singapore Shows Mechanical Creatures
Design Sound Festivals
CONTRIBUTIONS Festival #2 Pairs Exhibited Art with Commissioned Soundscapes
Recycled Guitar Prototypes
This Cardboard Guitar Challenges Traditional Instrument Design
Soundtrack-Integrated Print Media
Radioposter Merged Audio Storytelling with Physical Books &Zines
AI-Powered Piano Systems
The ROLI Piano System Makes Learning an Instrument More Accessible
Nostalgic Timeless Click Devices
This 3D-Printed iPod Classic Fidget Toy Revives Tactile Memory
Haptic Music Experiences
oMoo Translates Music Into Touch Through AI-Driven Haptics
Ai Music Module Systems
MUSE AI Music Modules Listen When Users Hum, Tap, or Strum
Otherworldly Wooden Art
Donald Wasswa's Wooden Sculptures Conjure Futuristic Speculative Creatures
Human Communication-Focused Interactive Artworks
Spaghetti Chorus by Daily Tous Les Jours Returns
Accessible Synthesizer Lines
Yamaha Has Introduced a New Series of Electronic Musical Instruments
Music-Themed Travel Guides
Skyscanner Music Guides Were Created with Exceptional ALIEN
Stealthy Rare Wooden Instruments
Yamaha's Torch T01 is Made with a Sustainable Build
AI Playlist Generators
Youtube Music AI Creates Fresh, Theme-Based Playlists from Any Sentence
Virtual Idol Game Crossovers
Fortnite Festival and Hatsune Miku Bring Vocaloid to Modern Gaming
Music-Based Learning Tools
Music 2 Math Combines Music And Math To Boost Children’s Learning
Hybrid Music Instruments
Korg's Phase8 Combines Kalimba Form with Digital Synthesis
Playlist-Paired Puzzles
Piecework Puzzles Come with Curated Songs to Match the Vibe
Dynamic Multi-Use Turntables
Korg Launches Three New Turntables with Specialized Features
Nostalgic Audio Interfaces
CassetteOne Blends Retro Design With Ambient Audio and Playlists
Biologically Shaped Musical Gadgets
The Balls in Concert Ad Brings Testicular Cancer Awareness
Compact Bio-Synth Gadgets
The Pocket Scion Biofeedback Instrument Makes Plants Musical
Portable Album Players
The ENSA P1 Portable Audio Player Uses Physical Music Cartridges
Sculptural Writing Tools
Experimental Pencils Rethinks the Humble Pencil as a Tool for Expression
Kid-Friendly Synth Kits
The Four-Step Sequencer Synthesizer Introduces Simple Music Play
Electronic String Instruments
The Harmoni Guitar from Openhagen Highlights Digital Sound Control
Nautilus Shell Speakers
Steampunk Nautilus is a Haptic Speaker Project Built into a Fossil Shell
Art-Inspired Sample Libraries
Spitfire Audio's 'Impressionism' Inspires Sonic Creativity
Cover Art Generators
The CanCon Album Generator Lets Fans Remix Iconic Canadian Covers
Modular Speaker Sculptures
The GRID Modular Sound System Positions Audio Hardware as Modern Art
Instrument-Resembling Coffee Machines
The Trumpet Coffee Machine Has a Theatrical Form and Control
Modern Sideways Audio Turntables
Waiting For Ideas Launches the PP-1 Turntable
Vintage Puzzle Gramophones
LEGO Gramophone Recreates Hand-Cranked Charm with Vinyl & Crank Details
Modular Music Makers
Users Can Build and Modify Music Easily with Modular Sound Blocks
Reactive Party Lighting
The Soundboks Lightboks turns any gathering into a music reactive party
Global Guitar Searches
Gibson x Michael J. Fox Launch s Search for Lost Back to the Future Guitar
Philharmonic Orchestra-Inspired Audio Campaigns
VIAIM and the China Philharmonic Orchestra Partner
Color-Coded Music Sheets
ColoredMusicSheet Makes Music Learning Easier With Color-Coded Notes
AI Music Studios
MusicMint Generates Original AI Music Compositions And Covers Instantly
Web-Based Music Sequencers
MiniTAP Lets You Sequence Music in Real Time From Your Browser
Web-Based VR Games
Slice of Music Delivers an Interactive Rhythm Game for Apple Vision Pro
Exclusive Music Instrument Brands
Aeroband Will Be Present at the NAACP Image Awards®
Sustainable Hand-Crafted Keyboards
This Working Synth is Crafted from Cardboard and Walnut Keys
Music-Driven Coming-Of-Age Games
Beethoven and Dinosaur’s Mixtape Releases This Upcoming May
Playful Accent Tables
The Bug Tables Bring Digital Glitch Design into Tactile, Everyday Furniture
Coffee Ground-Made Music Boxes
Hyunbin Kim Imagines the Musical Snowie Musical Concept
Classroom Management Toolboxes
Teacher Kit Offers Timers, Music, And Group Tools For Educators
Music-Driven Pleasure Toys
The 'Groove Thing' Internal Music Player Provides Auditory Pleasure
Android Synthesizer Devices
Oscalate Offers Real-Time Synthesizer and Sequencer for Android
Brass Instrument Simulators
Virtual Trumpet & Trombone Provides Realistic Practice Tools Anywhere
Guitar-Shaped Audio Players
Clearaudio Celebrity Al Di Meola Edition Mirrors an Instrument’s Form
Sculptural Art Pianos
Steel and Stone Piano V2 Transforms Between Instrument and Minimal Monolith
Trumpet Tuning Tools
Trumpet Tuner Helps Bb and C Players Tune With Precision
Typing Sound Effects
Keyboard Sounds Adds Customizable Sound Effects to Your Typing Experience.
Remote Music Platforms
Hotcake Simplifies Virtual Musical Collaboration Across Distances
Accessible Musical Experiences
Adapt Music Relies on Hand-On Music Activities as Therapy
Trophy-Inspired Puzzle Bricks
_ironman Designs the LEGO Gramophone Brick Puzzle Set
Tape Deck Instruments
Magnetic Folklore Transforms Obsolete Tape Decks into Live Instruments
Creator Edition Consoles
The Larrabee Creator Edition M1 record console celebrates studio legacy