What is the name of this instrument??

RiseOfTheWooten · #1 03-10-2006, 04:21 AM

I'm trying to do a google search for it but have no idea where to begin because I don't know what they're called.

It's one of those things with a keyboard on it, maybe 2 octaves, you blow into one end and play the keys. It kinda sounds like an accordion.

Anyone know what they're called? I remember they used to have them back when I was in primary school.

bassicinstinct · #2 03-10-2006, 04:28 AM

It is called a melodica. Donald Fagen of Steely Dan often uses one.

This may be of interest:

http://www.melodicas.com/melodica_is...trument_cr.htm

RiseOfTheWooten · #3 03-10-2006, 05:04 AM

haha thanks, that's it!

I realised I never knew what they were called even though they were everywhere years ago at school. I'm kinda thinking of getting one just to have a play.

bassicinstinct · #4 03-10-2006, 06:29 AM

You're very welcome.

Enjoy it if you get one. Fagen virtually makes his "talk".

Petary791 · #5 03-10-2006, 07:32 AM

I just saw G-Love playing that yesterday on the Jack Johnson DVD I was watching.

BurningSkies · #6 03-10-2006, 07:38 AM

Augustus Pablo. Possibly the most famous melodica player.

RiseOfTheWooten · #7 03-10-2006, 07:40 AM

I think Jack Johnson's bass player has a pretty damn good gig. The bass lines are simple, everything's laid back, don't even have to break a sweat throughout the gig.

Bard2dbone · #8 03-10-2006, 07:48 AM

While melodica is the actual, official name of this instrument, there are many nicknames for it. One of my favorites was the name of a band in the eighties, who named themselves after the melodica that one of their members occasionally played.

They called themselves the Hooters. And, somewhat obviously, referred to this instrument as a 'hooter.'

**Thor** · #9 03-10-2006, 09:14 AM

The album the Hooters released was actually quite good,
if I recall.

I also think some members of that band collaborated on
Cyndi Lauper's first release, 'She's So Unusual', which
I also thought was done well.

'Hooterist' Rob Hyman and guitarist Eric Bazilian also
co-wrote and arranged most of Joan Osborne's
debut release 'Relish'. About 1995 iirc.

The Hooters as a band faded after their first Columbia
release 'Nervous Night' in 1985.