Introducing the Glissotar

Microtonality at your fingertips

Adjustable
magnetic strap

2.5 octaves
with thumb keys

Glissotar is the first member of the Glissonic instrument family, designed to give wind players unprecedented flexibility with glissando.
With a magnetic strap instead of keys, the Glissotar gives its user a vast range of new playing possibilities.
It is based on the soprano saxophone. Its range is 2.5 octaves, it has two octave keys, and it can be used with a soprano saxophone mouthpiece.

Playing styles

Trill, tremolo, glissando, vibrato, slide, plucking, snapping, lug, quarter-tones, one-finger play, released strip, playing without a mouthpiece, half-covered bell, overtone flute… you name it.
Play it your way.

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Glissonic family

We are dedicated to transforming the landscape of acoustic music via liberating sounds on woodwind instruments that have been difficult to play in the past. Glissonic is an entirely new wind instrument family. The main novelty is that it uses a longitudinal slot on the instrument’s tube instead of tone holes. The two sides of the slot are covered with a magnetic foil that attracts a magnetized ribbon on top. The ribbon is fixed on the upper end, stretched, and lifted up from the lower end as a string on a violin. You can push down the ribbon anywhere, and it will seal up perfectly above it, so you can produce any note in the pitch continuum, resulting in a microtonal wind instrument. It can be played with eight fingers of the two hands or by sliding one finger up and down. The glissonic system can be used on various wind instruments: flute, recorder, clarinet, saxophone, tarogato, oboe, etc., or even the cornett.

Glissonic_family_2

Guthman Competition

Glissotar won the First Prize and the People’s Choice Award at the Guthmann Musical Instrument Competition in Atlanta in 2022.
It is one of the globe’s premiere events for music technologists. The instruments that the competition features are a captivating mix of digital possibilities and traditional approaches that transform how we perform and experience music.
More here:
https://guthman.gatech.edu/2022-competition

Two great models

Next to the Glissotar Purpleheart, we offer a second model, Glissotar Jam, a robust 3D-printed instrument made of durable bio-composit. Glissotar Jam has the same form and functionality as the Glissotar. Its tone is slightly brighter, with more upper harmonics. Its material is robust against moisture anomalies.

We took the time

Glissotar is a result of long development with countless prototypes. Eight years of development allowed us to create an instrument that is simple, durable, and reliable.

Dániel Váczi – inventor
The Glissonic instruments are the inventions of Dániel.
He is a saxophone player, composer, inventor,
and researcher of musical instruments and games. He graduated as a biologist and studied Jazz Saxophone. He founded his jazz trio in 2001. Dániel plays jazz, world, free improvisation, and contemporary classical music with several other bands.

Tóbiás Terebessy – designer
is the leading designer of Glissotar, putting more than eight years into development. He is also the co-founder of Medence Group, a multidisciplinary design group with projects ranging from fine art to architecture. He has participated in different music-related projects as a designer
or constructor.

Dániel Váczi – inventor
The Glissonic instruments are the inventions of Dániel.
He is a saxophone player, composer, inventor,
and researcher of musical instruments and games. He graduated as a biologist and studied Jazz Saxophone. He founded his jazz trio in 2001. Dániel plays jazz, world, free improvisation, and contemporary classical music with several other bands.

Tóbiás Terebessy – designer
is the leading designer of Glissotar, putting more than eight years into development. He is also the co-founder of Medence Group, a multidisciplinary design group with projects ranging from fine art to architecture. He has participated in different music-related projects as a designer
or constructor.

Glissonic News

Don’t miss the latest news about our instruments, concerts, workshops, and more.

blog

Story of the Glissotar –...

“Daniel Váczi’s invention, innovation is the kind of thing for me as well, which immediately brings out such childlike excitement […] I can immediately think in terms of music...
Read More

Glissonic News

Don’t miss the latest news about our instruments, concerts, workshops, and more.

Try before you buy

Check out our ambassador program, meet fellow musicians who own a Glissonic instrument, book a hands-on session, or visit a partner music shop.
Get in touch with our ambassadors today!
More info: about the Ambassador Program.
Learn about the Travelling Glissotar Program.

Contact us >