Instruments come in all sizes. They could be so tiny that they are only 1 cm tall. They could be so humongous that they are measured in acres.
The world's most miniature piano has all 88 keys, just like other pianos. It is functional. You could actually play it. The entire piano is only 7 inches high.
There is a guitar so small that it is called the nano-guitar. It is only 10 micrometers long. That's about the size of some cells and bacteria. It might be hard to believe, but this guitar can be played. Unfortunately, we cannot hear it. The guitar makes a high-pitched sound that is hard for humans to hear.
Have you played the ocarina? It is not as miniature as the nano-guitar, but it has been around for over 12,000 years. It has a mouthpiece along with 4 to 12 holes. Different sounds can be made by covering the holes. It is kind of like a flute. Many people say it's the perfect instrument for beginners.
Are you interested in making your own small instruments? You could 3D print them. You could make a guitar or even an ocarina.
There are many places in the world where giant structures can also make music! This is the Sea Organ in Croatia. An organ is an instrument that is similar to a piano. It looks like some ordinary stairs near the sea. But actually, there are pipes under the steps. When the waves and wind push air through the holes at the top, beautiful sounds come out. It is like a giant pipe! With the size and weight of this instrument, it will be extremely hard to transport.
The Singing Ringing Tree in England also works like a pipe. It is over 3 m tall. That is like 3 kids standing on top of each other! The pipes on the tree are all different lengths, so the sounds are all different. The shorter pipes have a higher pitch. The longer pipes have a lower pitch. When the wind blows through the pipes, you can hear a lot of different music.
Do you know what a stalactite is? A stalactite is like an icicle, but it is made from salt. Water drips very slowly in a cave. And sometimes it carries salt and makes these cool-looking shapes. In Virginia, USA, an organ was connected to the stalactites. This is the Great Stalacpipe Organ. The organ touches several of the stalactites. When the organ hits each stalactite, it makes a noise!
Some creative architects made a house and instrument hybrid. They converted parts of the house into an instrument. There are two large harps with tubes that go into the living room. Using a series of strings and beams, the living room works like a cello. The stairs were turned into a harp. The music can be heard throughout the entire house.
What kind of instruments do you want to try? Do you want to play the tiniest guitar? Or do you want to see the biggest organ?