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I've not played an instrument since Jr. High Band (marimba, 22 years ago), but you got me to try something new. Just ordered a Clarke Tin Whistle, and am going to pull the trigger on a five-string kantele if the order time isn't too long. Have a family reunion with a medieval theme in July, so I'm hoping the wife and I can perform some folk tunes. [Actually I do have a PaIa Theremax theremin which I was given by a physics department, but I suspect it has some blown circuitry, and is hard a balls to do anything with even if it was fully working.]
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May 11, 2012 01:09
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re: My Theremax As I think more about it, I believe there were two electronic issues, and two human issues. Several of the potentiometers were really noisy so volume/pitch settings didn't scale smoothly with the knob position. Also the pot that changed the waveform appeared to not do anything (though I don't know if that was a wiring issue or just a non-functional potentiometer). The human issues are that I don't have much aptitude in electronics, and I tend to change hobbies quickly, so I never got close to troubleshooting/repairing/learning to play. That's why I'm hoping to have more luck with the kantele, five notes and three chords seem like something that may be more my thing. I'm really interested in the bowed psaltery, as well, but that will be on the 'for the future' list.
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May 11, 2012 02:12
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TapTheForwardAssist posted:I've been subtly pushing 5-string kantele, and it's really a beautiful instrument. Minimal strings gives you a certain freedom, and honestly it's the "limitations" that define the sound and style of most traditional instruments. If you're American, I'd contact Gerry Henkel ASAP and let him know your timeline, see if he has any off-the-shelf, or at least a short timeline. Failing that, there are a few other makes that turn up on eBay that are only slightly more expensive, but if he has them on hand I'd go Henkel just to support the scene, plus the guy is America's kantele guru. Also check out the couple books we mention early in the thread; it sucks to buy a $30 book, but they seem pretty comprehensive, though I'm sure Henkel's free book is fine to start with. Done and Done! It sounds like he's making them to order, and I think his wife is making the case, but I just put in the order to Gerry, and he's expecting to ship in 2-3 weeks! I'll definitely post photos and maybe a vid when it arrives!
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May 12, 2012 00:41
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Do you know what time it is? KANTELE TIME! My Gerry Henkel kantele came in today. I did a little dance in the front yard when I saw the box. And here's a vid of a me playing the kantele after mucking around with it for about 15 minutes. http://youtu.be/PkEXqcy2xPA
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Jun 9, 2012 00:55
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I've got a kantele update! I've picked up the Fishbone book of songs for 5-string kantele, but I'm really enjoying just rocking out. I've also learned the chords for "The Water is Wide" and am trying to teach them to my wife, so I can accompany her on the tin whistle. For me, the 5-string was the perfect choice. You can easily make nice sounding music without any experience just messing around, which is amazing. For example, I've got this jig-like D-major bit here. I've got a couple of places where I slip a bit, but it doesn't make horrible atonal noises when I do. http://youtu.be/hN7HcMXTBjU I also showed it to a friend who plays harp. She thought is sounded nice, but really could use two more strings. She then asked what the name of the song I was playing was and I said "Oh, I'm just improvising, that's just a thing I made up."  The song was something similar to this (I really like the kantele in D-minor)http://youtu.be/OiELasdxRsM So my next big challenge will be to learn enough about chords to figure out how to play today's top hits on Finland's national instrument. It seems like hooktheory.com is a promising resource, particularly for easy transposition into different keys. For example: http://www.hooktheory.com/analysis/view/the-rolling-stones/satisfaction Anyway, it will be a tough sell with the wife, but I'll see if I can get a vid of kantele and tin whistle together in a few weeks.
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Jun 15, 2012 00:48
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Does the standing offer for decent used Ebay dulcimer locatior service still stand? I figure a new summer calls for a new instrument that I'll only learn 1-2 songs on, and I could go for a dulcimer if its still possible to get a decent used one for about $100. I don't have platinum, but I can throw up an e-mail. I Greyhound fucked around with this message at 01:48 on Jun 21, 2013 |
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Jun 21, 2013 00:34
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Thanks to a crapload of advice from TTFA, I've got a dulcimer headed my way! Appalachian Dulcimer: America's Instrument  I'll post pics and vid once I get it up, running and learn something to play. In the meantime, here are some instruments no one should learn. First up: The Triolin; Because you have not just one, but TWO friends who you want to stand awkwardly close to while playing violin backwards:  (Note that there is another instrument called the triolin which may be pretty cool, it's a triangular nail violin)  http://youtu.be/moIQAikuueU?t=5m33s IN THE 90'S A NEW BAND EMERGED TO PLAY THE SOUNDS OF THE 80'S THEY WERE NITRO (and were a little late). They had a guitarist, Michael Angelo Batio, who could play very very fast. But he could only play the same simple riffs, and every solo was the same. But he did have a quad guitar. 4! Guitars in one. Who needs 4 guitars? No one. Not even Michael Angelo, who had it stolen out of a van.  And here it is in 'action' http://youtu.be/mL3WKqMRBRc?t=8s On a similarly silly, but very different musical note, I found the triolin while looking for some half-remembered crazy multi-stringed zig-zag thing, which ended up being the 42-stringed guitar.  What do you do with it? I'm still not entirely sure, but it sounds like this. http://youtu.be/Wp1wHZfZz9s I Greyhound fucked around with this message at 03:50 on Jul 3, 2013 |
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Jul 3, 2013 03:47
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You all are dragging my out of dulcimer lurking. TTFA helped me get one of the fabled $100 ebay dulcimers, and I've been waiting until I could actually play something before showing off. I'm trying to learn a fully chorded, noter and drone, and backing chord song to play with the three major ways you can use them. Songs I chose: Chorded: http://everythingdulcimer.com/tab/AranBoatSong.pdf Noter and drone: http://www.dulcimer-noter-drone.blogspot.com/2012/08/trader-boatman.html Backing chords (also can be played fully chorded): http://everythingdulcimer.com/tab/Squid_Jigging_Ground.pdf I'll see if I can get a vid recorded and edit it into this post, I'm close to being able to do justice to Trader Boatman.
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Sep 8, 2013 01:46
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'Stuck with' isn't a good metric for me, but I did grab an Appalachian dulcimer (with TTFA assistance) Then found a cheap banhu in a street market in Yangshuo, China (The erhu would not have fit in my luggage). In my unskilled hands it makes the most hellacious sounds I've ever heard, which is a plus!
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Jul 20, 2014 03:09
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| # ¿ Apr 28, 2024 10:42 |
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Popping in to give an update and thank TTFA once again. While my wife was in (early) labor, I was playing 5 string kantele for her in the birthing room. I also used a mountain dulcimer for an entry in the GBS terrible christmas song thread (since my music-playing options are a bit limited.)
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Nov 20, 2014 03:38
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