Sometimes a "musical instrument" designed for non-musicians and for idiots falls into the hands of someone who IS a musician and is a bit inventive as far as playing technique is concerned. What could be simpler than an autoharp? Press a button for the chord you want and strum the strings. Then along comes the Stoneman family or the Carters and it becomes a virtuoso instrument. The music one can get out of ANY instrument depends on the musician. I once knew a guy who turned a bunch of kitchen-ware (pots, pans, colanders, and such) and a couple of lengths of PCV pipe--into a small orchestra. Or take a good look at the odds and ends that make up a jug band (jugs, washtub bass, washboard....). Don Firth
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