Over the last few years, innovations in musical instruments are commonly based on existing ones. These electronic advancements would usually involve keyboards, guitars, drums, or the occasional wind instrument; in short, any familiar instrument. For very good reasons, such advancements come into play for existing ones. Once in every few years though, maverick instrument makers create such rarities that become eagerly anticipated -- things that excite the mind and ears that all of the sudden musicians can't wait to grab a hold of them. Upon fixing your gaze upon the Eigenlabs Eigenharp, would you every think of it as a harp, a keyboard, a sitar, a guitar, a tap instrument, a wind instrument? Try to figure it out by continuing below.

In an attempt to demystify what the Eigenharp is, it should be quite obvious that it's an electronic instrument that holds the claim of being the most expressive electronic instrument ever made. How true can that be? Upon inspection of the instrument, you'll find an array of keys laden with LEDs, a strip or ribbon controller, and a breath controller all strategically positioned in what looks like the radiused neck of a sitar. Now, what does this tell you? This instrument appears to be the universal instrument every musician is looking for. Every musician from the guitarist and pianist to the violin, wind, or percussion player will find their previously learned techniques easily falling into play.

Such control features permit a lot of experimentation, but there's more to it that what you see at the surface. The key layout appears similar to that of a fretted instrument which can cater to guitar, keyboard/synth, and percussion players. The keys themselves do not only trigger not on or off but they can be utilized to even control filters or vibrato simultaneously allowing for "fretting-hand" or "fingerboard" techniques familiar guitar and string players. Other techniques such as tapping, glissandi, and even free contrapuntal technique seen in keyboards and touch-style instruments can be easily done with either the keys. The strip controller is just as expressive as well, permitting techniques similar to a cello or Ondes Martenot. Trying to simulate woodwind playing such as saxophone or bassoon can be done through the breath controller as well as the keys.

The Eigenharp can also record and play loops, change key, transpose, modify tempo, program beats courtesy of the built-in step sequencer, as well as switch and layer sounds while performing live. All in all, this total performance instrument is bound to inspire musicians of all levels and traditions with the seemingly limitless possibilities that can be done with it. So much is the span of this new instrument that these descriptions are only scratching the surface at most.

Eigenlabs is launching the two models of the Eigenharp this October. The flagship model called the Eigenharp Alpha has 120 highly sensitive keys, 12 percussion keys, 2 strip controllers, a breath pipe, and an array of pedal inputs, making the Alpha suitable for pros as well as those individuals who have that one-man ensemble in mind. The Alpha also includes a comprehensive software system for that array of performance features. The entry-level model called the Eigenharp Pico (right) shares many of the features of the Alpha but is stripped down with only 22 keys, a breath pipe, and a strip controller making it an ideal introductory instrument from beginners to soloists.

You can now place a pre-order for the Eigenlabs Eigenharp of your choice. The Alpha model retails at 3,950.00 GBP, and the Pico has a retail price of 349.00 GBP. The Eigenlabs Eigenharp starts shipping November 9, 2009.