Conch (instrument)
| Brass instrument | |
|---|---|
| Other names | conque, seashell horn, shell trumpet |
| Classification | Natural trumpet |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 423.11 (Conches) |
| Inventor(s) | Prehistoric |
| Volume | High |
| Playing range | |
| Limited, typically only a few notes | |
| Related instruments | |
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A conch (US: /kɑːŋk, kɑːntʃ/ KONK, KONCH, UK: /kɒntʃ/ KONCH) or conque, also called a "seashell horn" or "shell trumpet", is a wind instrument that is made from a conch, the shell of several different kinds of sea snails. Their natural conical bore is used to produce a musical tone. Conch shell trumpets have been played in many Pacific island countries, as well as South America and South Asia.
The shells of large marine gastropods are blown into as if it were a trumpet, as in blowing horn. A completely unmodified conch may be used, or a mouth hole may be created. Wooden, bamboo, or metal mouthpieces may be inserted into the end of the shell. Embouchure is used to produce notes from the harmonic series. A tone hole may be added to change the fundamental frequency but globally this is extremely rare.
Various species of large marine gastropod shells can be turned into "blowing shells", but some of the more commonly used species include triton ('trumpet shell'), cassis ('helmet shell') and strombus ('true conch')."