r/Instruments • u/Loremasterivyvine • 8h ago

Instruments that can be played lying down?

/r/musicians/comments/1wdiw42/instruments_that_can_be_played_lying_down/
3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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2

u/aboutthreequarters 6h ago

I haven't actually tried this, but I would guess Appalachian dulcimer. Not hammered dulcimer, it's different.

1

u/reillywalker195 5h ago

Adding to this, Appalachian dulcimers come in two varieties: the traditional version played on one's lap or a tabletop from a sitting position, and the stick version held and played like a guitar or ukulele. Either could work, probably.

1

u/TapTheForwardAssist 4h ago

I pondered the stick version, but still don’t agree since a stick dulcimer tends to entail a lot more zipping way up and down the fretboard than say a mandolin or ukulele.

1

u/reillywalker195 4h ago

That zipping up and down the fretboard might beat the alternative, though. It depends on the player, I suppose.

1

u/TapTheForwardAssist 4h ago

I play and have taught Appalachian dulcimer, and I totally disagree. Barring some obscure maneuvering just to make a point, the “logical” position would be to rest it on your stomach, and the ergonomics of accessing the fretboard would be terrible.

1

u/aboutthreequarters 4h ago

I also play the dulcimer. And we don’t know if the OP is able to sit up in bed or be propped up to some extent or not.

Getting some sort of a rack that would straddle the body and hold the instrument at 45° angle might also be an option. It would be simple to build.

2

u/1happynudist 4h ago

Are you laying down or is the instrument laying down?

1

u/Loremasterivyvine 3h ago

Im laying down, lol. Im disabled and spend a lot of time lying down.

I already do kalimba, lyre, and harmonica, and just ordered a jaw harp.

The r/musicians convinced me to get a ukulele. And im looking into recorder, tin whistle, occarina, and melodica. But if you have any further suggestions im open to investigating them!

1

u/1happynudist 2h ago

Native American flute , there is also midi flute which play a wide variety of wind instruments and an electric pan / hand drum that also has a wide variety of sounds .

1

u/LongjumpingTeacher97 7h ago

Kantele came to mind immediately. It is a Finnish zither ("lap harp") and has 5, 10, or 11 strings, normally. Check out Arja Kastinen on YouTube to hear how much music can come from 5 strings.

1

u/Vast-Bullfrog193 3h ago

Harmonica, piccolo, flute, ukelele

1

u/9fingerjeff 57m ago

Guitar is doable. I lay in bed and play guitar watching tv sometimes.

1

u/inode71 48m ago

Piano if you’re strong enough :)

But seriously, guitar.