Comments on: More prepared guitar

By: howsthatsound

howsthatsound — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 18:14:28 +0000

I love that quote. Thanks again for the kind words.

By: Lemon Mahler

Lemon Mahler — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 15:39:01 +0000

“After I had been studying with him for two years, Schoenberg said, “In order to write music, you must have a feeling for harmony.” I explained to him that I had no feeling for harmony. He then said that I would always encounter an obstacle, that it would be as though I came to a wall through which I could not pass. I said, “In that case I will devote my life to beating my head against that wall”
~John Cage

Your of the same bloodline man. Your a genius clawing back the dogmatic form of other so called “virtuoso” musicians. Keep it up. You’ve really made my day.

By: howsthatsound

howsthatsound — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 14:40:25 +0000

I didn't do anything with my bike per-se. I just took a single bicycle spoke and stuck it through the strings. it was contact miked though. for bike experimentation, you may want to check out the portland bike ensemble.

By: Admin

Admin — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:07:17 +0000

A friend and I are non-musicians that would like to experiment with turning a bike into a musical instrument. Would you care to elaborate as to what exactly you did with your bike? Was a piezo electric pick-up involved?

Cheers!
- dez

By: howsthatsound

howsthatsound — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:16:05 +0000

the book is called "musical instrument design" by bart hopkin. it's really great, and pretty much all of the matterials save a few that he mentions can be bought at your local hardware store. i in general scavenge as much as possible, so my bow is made from an oak plank i found in my back alley. I'll email you about venues and stuff.

By: Jake

Jake — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:08:09 +0000

I suppose I should clarify my last request: venues in your area, not just anywhere.

By: Jake

Jake — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:49:38 +0000

Oh man! That’s awesome. I’ve got a lot to learn… I’ve been using my sister’s violin bow, but I still don’t feel comfortable using it. What was the name of the instrument building book?

Also, I was wondering if you could be of assistance. I am trying to book an East Coast/New England tour for the end of May and was wondering if you could point me in the direction of some experimental-friendly venues. Coffeeshops, small venues, etc. Any info would be wonderful!

By: howsthatsound

howsthatsound — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:13:11 +0000

thanks a lot man! the wierd bowing sounds are in fact bowing. i made myself a simple bow based on a design from an instrument building book, and it’s one of the best bows i’ve ever used. you can get great sounds out of almost anything. bowing has become one of my favorite sound making techniques of late. some of the less “guitar-like” sounds were made by pulling the string off the fretboard with my fingers and then bowing is at various places.

By: Jake

Jake — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:43:16 +0000

I dig the hell out of this. How did you get the weird bowing sounds?

Look for me to start using a prepared guitar in the near future…

By: I <3 Improv « Startling Moniker

I <3 Improv « Startling Moniker — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:54:11 +0000

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