Musical Saw

unusual instruments · sound · music

Not a carpentry tool. Even though it looks like a regular saw, the musical saw is played by a musician, not a carpenter. The player bends the blade with one hand to change the pitch while rubbing it with a violin bow to make it sing.

Spooky, ethereal tone. The musical saw creates a continuous, wavering sound that feels ghostly and magical, very similar to the theremin, which is another instrument that makes eerie noises without being touched by hands.

Smooth, sliding notes. Unlike a piano or guitar where you hit individual notes, the musical saw can slide smoothly from one note to another in an endless glide called a glissando, which sounds like a voice sliding from high to low.

Metal sheet friction. Scientists classify the musical saw as a friction idiophone, which means it makes sound when you rub metal with friction, just like when a violin bow creates sound by rubbing strings.

Vintage and rare. The musical saw was especially popular in the early 1900s and appears in classical and folk music around the world, though it's rarely heard in modern music today.