It’s a toy! It’s an instrument! It’s the Otamatone!
A few weeks ago, I stumbled on some videos of people playing this strange object in the shape of an eighth note (or a quaver, if you prefer). This instrument, created in Japan by Maywa Denki, produces a sort of electronic sound when it is played. One hand is used to press on the neck to make different notes. There are no frets, but you can easily slide your fingers for smooth transitions to the closest notes. The other hand is used to squeeze the Otamatone’s mouth, which makes the sound waver by hiding and exposing the speaker found in the head of the instrument.
The result is weird and adorable, but mostly weird. The eyes and mouth-like shape opening on the head of the instrument make it seem as though the Otamatone is singing, especially when the mouth is opened and closed to make a wavier sound. However, the sound that is produced is a bit like the quacking of a duck, mixed with an unnatural electronic sound. I was in awe when I was watching people play tunes on the Otamatone, but I was also laughing because it was so ridiculous. Here is a cover of Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon” on Otamatone by Nelson Tan Yan Cong (NELSON TYC).
To make such an odd instrument sound not out-of-place in a big band is quite the accomplishment. There are many other Otamatone covers available of popular songs and pieces, ranging in skill and type of Otamatone, from Ave Maria to Despacito. This all shows that humans strive to achieve greatness in any aspect of their lives, even in playing an odd little instrument that may not sound great originally.
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