Tremoloa

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The tremoloa is a rare American string instrument in the fretless zither family. It was developed in the early 20th century and was made in the United States from the 1920s to the 1950s, as Hawaiian music became very popular. It’s related to instruments like the Marxophone.

How it works: a weighted roller sits on a melody string and is moved by a swinging arm after you pluck the string. Sliding the roller along the string creates a tremolo effect, imitating the sound of a Hawaiian steel guitar. The tremoloa also has four chords—C, G, F, and D major—for simple harmony.

Inventors Harold Finney and John H. Large were granted a patent for the tremoloa in 1932.

In modern music, the tremoloa has appeared in Broken Social Scene’s “Tremoloa Debut” and The Magnetic Fields’ 69 Love Songs.