Trap music may have a distinct formula for drums, often anchored by the iconic TR-808 sounds, but the melodic side offers plenty of room for creativity. From sampled chord progressions and melodic loops to original compositions played using virtual or real instruments, there are countless ways to melodically shape the sound of a trap beat.

While popular choices like pianos, guitars, bells, and synths remain staples, exploring more unusual instruments can give your beats a unique edge and help them stand out. In this post, we uncover 10 unique instruments that could bring new textures and interesting qualities to your trap melodies.

1. Glass Harp

The haunting sounds of the glass harp are produced by rubbing the rims of glasses, adding an eerie, ghostly texture. This sound is perfect for creating unnerving melody lines in a horror trap beat.

2. Ocarina

The Ocarina is a small flute-like instrument with a pure, airy tone. It is probably most famous for its association with the Zelda game franchise, and it can bring a mystical vibe to melodic layers. Synthesised flute sounds have been a staple in trap melodies for some time and the ocarina bears many similarities to the trap synth flute sound. This makes the ocarina the perfect substitute, giving your tracks a more organic and original sound.

3. Zither

Trap has always been big on plucked sounds. The Zither can either be Plucked or strummed like a guitar but it has a distinct resonance that gives it a folkish feel. It is widely used in the music of Eastern Europe but also has associations with 60s TV spy music. Whether used for plucked melodies, strummed chords or lush arpeggios the zither is guaranteed to give your trap beats a distinct esoteric flavour.

4. Waterphone

The waterphone is a highly unique instrument known for its eerie and unsettling resonant sound. It was often used in horror films as well as famously in the Dirty Harry movies scored by Lalo Shifrin. As the waterphone is unable to play distinct melodies it is best suited as a textural layer. It’s long padlike grones and whines make it perfect for layering with dark mysterious trap beats.

5. Hang Drum or Handpan

While the steel drums have long been an established instrument in trap beats, the hang drum or handpan as it is sometimes known has remained in the shadows. The hang drum is essentially a small-scale steel drum designed to be played on your lap with your hands rather than beaters. It has a smoother and gentler tone with a rich melodic, resonant quality. Used well, the hang Drum can introduce a hypnotic or dreamlike quality to your trap beats.

6. Guqin

The Guqin is strongly associated with the musical traditions of China. It is a traditional plucked string instrument with an emotive and haunting, meditative sound. Played on a table or your lap its distinctive sound will instantly transport you to the Far East. So if you fancy dialing up the Shaolin vibes in your next beats don’t sleep on the Guqin.

7. Electric Saz

Middle Eastern scales and melodies always work well in trap music. If you want to inject a Turkish Psych twist to your beats the Electric Saz is the key. An electrified version of the Turkish 5-string Baglâma, this instrument is a cross between a lute and a guitar. Best used for plucked melodies processed through amp modelling effects, this evocative instrument will instantly give your tracks a trippy Middle Eastern feel.

8. Bandoneon

The Bandoneon is very similar to an accordion but it has a more expressive, moody tone. Since trap generally centres around minor keys and scales, the bandoneon’s dramatic sound is perfect for adding depth and intrigue to a track.

9. Toy Piano

The resonating janky tones of a child’s toy piano can provide a unique character to your trap melodies. Often associated with horror films such as “Childs Play” the toy piano conjures up feelings of innocence but with a sinister edge. An ideal instrument for delivering bold, dominant melodies over dark musical backdrops.

10. Hurdy Gurdy

Certainly one of the strangest instruments on our list, the hurdy-gurdy looks like a cross between a guitar and keyboard. It works by turning a hand-crank that spins a rosined wheel. This wheel then rubs against strings to produce sound with Keys provided to change the pitch. The result is a unique, continuous drone with melodic accompaniment. You don’t hear a great deal of Hurdy Gurdy in Trap but its quirky yet dark medieval tones lend themselves perfectly to the genre

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