# What is this musical instrument? (Some kind of percussion instrument, sounds metallic, very 70s sounding) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [July 16, 2023, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument-some-kind-of-percussion-instrument-sounds-metallic-very-70s-sounding/987087 "2023-07-16T00:42:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument-some-kind-of-percussion-instrument-sounds-metallic-very-70s-sounding/987087/1 "2023-07-16T00:42:29Z")
Okay, I’ve got a puzzler that I’m flying blind with. Can anyone tell me what instrument is being played in the first 17 seconds of [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_95QHyj43y8)? The source is 1977’s “The Mouse and his Child,” a very 70s-ish movie, and I think I’ve long associated this instrument with 70s-style music—I’m pretty sure it’s from a few of the later Vince Guaraldi “Peanuts” special soundtracks, and/or old Nick at Nite reruns. There was a [“Nationwide” insurance](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whDiVVZ8x3c) commercial from a couple of years back that had the same, or a very similar instrument playing, I think. My problem: I have no idea what kind of instrument this actually is. I’d _guess_ that it’s _some_ kind of metallic percussion instrument—maybe some kind of hammered dulcimer, or marimba? But this is so far from my area of familiarity that I can only say with confidence that I _really_ don’t think it’s wind instrument. Probably. But I actually have a semi-legitimate need to figure out what the devil that thing IS, and on my own I don’t have a better method of doing so besides looking up the name of every single possible musical instrument on wikipedia, and comparing sounds. Which is probably slightly inefficient. So…can anyone here help me out in identifying this dulcet toned, probably bellbottom-wearing mystery device? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument-some-kind-of-percussion-instrument-sounds-metallic-very-70s-sounding/987087/2 "2023-07-16T00:51:59Z")
Celesta. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Aw7HAyq54rw/maxresdefault.jpg "Introducing: The Celeste") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw7HAyq54rw) ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument-some-kind-of-percussion-instrument-sounds-metallic-very-70s-sounding/987087/3 "2023-07-16T00:52:39Z")
I’d guess Fender Rhodes electric piano in both clips, with a glockenspiel playing the melody on the first. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument-some-kind-of-percussion-instrument-sounds-metallic-very-70s-sounding/987087/4 "2023-07-16T00:57:42Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > I’ve long associated this instrument with 70s-style music And one notable one from the 50s > **[Buddy Holly - Everyday](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMezwtB1oCU%2F)** ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument-some-kind-of-percussion-instrument-sounds-metallic-very-70s-sounding/987087/5 "2023-07-16T01:04:01Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > And one notable one from the 50s With Vi Petty on the celesta (according to Wikipedia): **The Crickets** - [Buddy Holly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Holly) - vocals, guitar - [Joe B. Mauldin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_B._Mauldin) - bass - [Jerry Allison](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Allison) - drums **Additional personnel** - Vi Petty - [celesta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celesta) And a glockenspiel for comparison: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/CyHBkwPguP4/maxresdefault.jpg "The Kolberg Glockenspiel") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyHBkwPguP4) ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument-some-kind-of-percussion-instrument-sounds-metallic-very-70s-sounding/987087/6 "2023-07-16T01:17:33Z")
Yeah, probably celesta. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument-some-kind-of-percussion-instrument-sounds-metallic-very-70s-sounding/987087/7 "2023-07-16T03:06:06Z")
I instantly recognized it as something I heard from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument-some-kind-of-percussion-instrument-sounds-metallic-very-70s-sounding/987087/8 "2023-07-16T06:52:45Z")
Modern folks will know it best from the Harry Potter theme music. I’m old enough to think of “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” by Tchaikovsky. It is almost certainly a Celest - or an electric keyboard immitating one. ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument-some-kind-of-percussion-instrument-sounds-metallic-very-70s-sounding/987087/9 "2023-07-16T07:28:54Z")
I think the video the OP posted sounds like a Fender Rhodes, too. It’s a very '70s sound. Listen when he gets higher up in the register: [https://youtu.be/-pnBR0Ec7yc](https://youtu.be/-pnBR0Ec7yc) Too much reverb, but you get the idea. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument-some-kind-of-percussion-instrument-sounds-metallic-very-70s-sounding/987087/10 "2023-07-16T16:45:43Z")
As long as we’re on the “What the Hell is that?” subject, in lots of Oater movies or Westerns, sometimes there will be a “rattlesnake” sound, a percussive rattle to indicate the hero is in a desert, and will soon be in deep trouble, seeing mirages on the horizon, or perhaps in a gunfight. What the hell is that? ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument-some-kind-of-percussion-instrument-sounds-metallic-very-70s-sounding/987087/11 "2023-07-16T16:57:05Z")
A [Vibraslap](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjA7iHgLT7U)? ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument-some-kind-of-percussion-instrument-sounds-metallic-very-70s-sounding/987087/12 "2023-07-16T17:59:08Z")
That might be it! ---
**Author:** ![Kedikat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument-some-kind-of-percussion-instrument-sounds-metallic-very-70s-sounding/987087/13 "2023-07-16T20:29:46Z")
I here a Glockenspiel and a Harp. Two different instruments. Definitely hear the pluck sound of the harp strings. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2023, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument-some-kind-of-percussion-instrument-sounds-metallic-very-70s-sounding/987087/14 "2023-07-17T01:34:05Z")
Rhodes! (Or maybe Wurlitzer, played without digging in too hard.) I say this as I long for the purity of the tone of the old Rhodes “Seventy Three” that I have sitting in a back room at my church, all packed up. Nobody but me knows what it really is, and everyone else wants to use modern keyboards at church. The YouTube videos that demonstrate the Rhodes tone all seem to have reverb or chorus applied–the true tone is pure and bell-like in the upper register. ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2023, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument-some-kind-of-percussion-instrument-sounds-metallic-very-70s-sounding/987087/15 "2023-07-17T02:44:01Z")
Yes, none of the videos I found had a pure Rhodes tone. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2023, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument-some-kind-of-percussion-instrument-sounds-metallic-very-70s-sounding/987087/16 "2023-07-17T02:50:54Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > Yeah, probably celesta. [This video shows how one works.](https://youtu.be/woIvHRGgHGY) (1:06 mark) ---
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2023, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument-some-kind-of-percussion-instrument-sounds-metallic-very-70s-sounding/987087/17 "2023-07-17T18:31:06Z")
The vibraslap is a variation of the jawbone of a donkey, which is exactly that. The teeth rattle in their sockets when you hit it. Not exactly the same sound, but I could hear it being used in Westerns whenever a rattlesnake is encountered, or when some fiendish character confronts the hero, a sort of “death rattle” effect. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/yNNASyshhnQ/maxresdefault.jpg "How To Play the Quijada de Burro with Freddy "Huevito" Lobatón") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNNASyshhnQ) ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2023, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument-some-kind-of-percussion-instrument-sounds-metallic-very-70s-sounding/987087/18 "2023-07-31T22:44:01Z")
The song in the OP’s video sounds like something The Avalanches would sample on their recordings.