#22

Water vessels (no pun intended) are super fun to play! I’ve had fun experimenting with different water levels in mason jars; using a two piece lid is especially interesting, variety of pitched tones with how much tension is used to screw the rim piece on.

3 Likes
#23

That sounds great! Definitely going to try that…

Another one I was playing around with recently was tic-tacs in a steel baking bowl. Maybe not items you’d have handy for a campfire jam, but super fun for studio play.

1 Like
#24

Big plastic bottles that are made for water coolers, like this one

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make surprisingly nice percussion or wind instruments. :smiley:

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#25

yessss

just discovered that vid a few days ago…they are killin it

such rich culture!

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this pair of small 4-5” oghene are the ones i’ve had for years

got a linked pair of 11” bells on the way (probably the same size as the guy in blue above)

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#26

so good !!

the folks who are just vibing and not playing any instruments are my favorite part of this video

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#27

All this bell talk is threatening to reignite my bell acquisition syndrome! I had quit buying them after I found my favorite. Cubans call this guataca, and it’s just an old hoe blade. It’s got a nice tight sound on the open, mute and edge without so much ringing and tone as a proper bell. Sounds good with a stick or metal striker like a tuning wrench. I suppose any old hunk of metal would work, but the hoe blade is traditional. In Santiago, the carnival troupes take it to the next level and walk around all day banging on automotive brake drums.

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I also want to recommend this book to anybody interested in digging deep into what makes complex interlocking rhythms work (or not). The Clave Matrix has really opened up my mind and ears.

8 Likes
#28

the pace of life in nigeria is so beautiful

their relaxed attitude comes thru in some styles of music too (like they are in no rush whatsoever to add all the elements of this piece…each joins in their own time)

i love it :smiley:

6 Likes
#29

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motherland came thru with super quick shipping…i was worried they might get delayed!

10 Likes
//// pictures of our sound-making machines ////
#30

H Grant - were you able to get hold of the audio examples for the book? I can’t find them anywhere, and Davis Penalosa appears to be hard reach.

Many Thanks, S.

#31

I have not. I hope he resurfaces some day. I’d like to attend his annual workshop at Humboldt State if it resumes.

I am progressing well enough with a lot of listening and practice, but it seems to be a long road to “clave consciousness” for those of us who were not born inside it.

Somewhat tangentially: one of the things that has helped me most was taking a few lessons on technique and mechanics for tumbadoras. I was able to figure out bongo from books and youtube, but I had been practicing very poor technique on the large drums as a result of learning on my own.

This is my (excellent) instructor: Percussion Instruction - Arturo Rodriguez
I was fortunate to be able to take some lessons in person, but he teaches remotely as well.