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Joined: Jul 2003
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Hi guys
Just recently in the mall in Perth I saw a busker playing a percussion instrument that looked like a closed wooden box with a number of slits cut into the top.
These slits were arranged so as to cause a number of fingers of different lengths and the busker was playing the instrument by striking the various fingers with a small mallet. I'm pretty sure that the fingers were made of such a length to make a pentatonic scale.
Has anyone got any idea what this instrument might be called?
It looks relatively simple to make, as long as the lengths of the fingers were known.
Tony.
tony
Lenovo lappie, 4Gb RAM, 500Gb HD
Ubuntu 12.04
Running BIAB under WINE
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Ah, I was just playing one of those the other day... My buddy has one, they make this great "donk" sound that's just great in reggae tunes...
If we're thinking about the same thing, I believe it's called a tongue drum, also known as a log drum or slit drum.
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"Tongue" drum, I think they are made of metal as vs wood.
Been a long time, not sure. These both are likely brand names. Or were at one time.
Am recalling my days leafing through the old paper American Music Supply catalogs when I should have been cold calling or at least tidying up the music store for the boss. Rharv probably remembers those. Everything, and I mean everything, musical seemed to be in them.
--Mac
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Quote:
Hi guys
Just recently in the mall in Perth I saw a busker playing a percussion instrument that looked like a closed wooden box with a number of slits cut into the top.
These slits were arranged so as to cause a number of fingers of different lengths and the busker was playing the instrument by striking the various fingers with a small mallet. I'm pretty sure that the fingers were made of such a length to make a pentatonic scale.
Has anyone got any idea what this instrument might be called?
It looks relatively simple to make, as long as the lengths of the fingers were known.
Tony.
Tony,
It is called a Cajon (not to be confused with "Coon Ass" which is another term for some Louisiana natives  ) here is a link Cajon.
Later,
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Quote:
Am recalling my days leafing through the old paper American Music Supply catalogs when I should have been cold calling or at least tidying up the music store for the boss. Rharv probably remembers those. Everything, and I mean everything, musical seemed to be in them.
--Mac
Hey, Mac. NOI. But the US is NOT the music capital of the world. Ever heard of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac?
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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Tongue drums are wood as well, same thing as a tone drum... there is a metal tongue drum/hang drum hybrid out there too called the Hapi drum (brand name) but that one seems to be made for finger drumming, rather than with a mallet..
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@Danny C,
What Tony described is not a Cajon - as it doesn't produce a pentatonic scale. Typically a Cajon will produce two different timbres, a low thump sound and a slap.
I've been researching them - considering purchase, but also thinking about a DIY project.
The two timbres are produced by hitting two different parts of one of the sides of the box. This particular side is screwed down tight along the bottom edge, about 2/3 up both the side edges, and about the center 1/3 of the top edge. Low thump is typically played with a somewhat cupped hand down in the center of that panel, and the 'slap' side up on the unscrewed corners.
Sometimes guitar strings are strung along the inside edge near those corners to empasize the slap timbre, giving it a snare-like sound.
I've delayed making mine as it seems the better cajon drums are made with high-count-ply birch plywood which is pretty pricey per sheet - then I heard a kid from a local worship team playing one that was well-mic'ed; sounding quite nice, and he just kind of made up his plans and built it out of easily available scrap from Home Depot. Shows what a little determination can do.
Planning on it for a winter project this year.
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Quote:
Quote:
Am recalling my days leafing through the old paper American Music Supply catalogs when I should have been cold calling or at least tidying up the music store for the boss. Rharv probably remembers those. Everything, and I mean everything, musical seemed to be in them.
--Mac
Hey, Mac. NOI. But the US is NOT the music capital of the world. Ever heard of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac?
Sam,
This wasn't meant to be a self-centered observation by Mac, I'm sure. AMS sells music equipment & gear. They still publish a paper catalog, but it's pretty skinny these days.
Now, I'm guessing they sell most of their stuff via internet: http://www.americanmusical.com/
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Whenever Sam types, "NOI" --
He uses NOI (No Offense Intended) as a way to go ahead and offend people anyway.
Maybe he'll take this to heart and change that.
--Mac
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.
The generic term is "slit drum." Start with a hollow log. Cut slits the top to make various tones. Found in indigenous cultures all over the world. The "Tone drum" that you gave the link for is a modern variation. I beleive they started showing up in the 70s, from a whole lot of makers. I have one in lovely mahogany, with all the tongues in the shape of whales. No maker label.
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I seem to recall seeing them in the catalogs sometime in the mid 60s. For all I know, the manufactured item could be even older than that, but I'm certain that their popularity has risen since those times, accounting for more availability and use.
--Mac
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Thanks for all the input.
The tone drum is what I saw, confirmed by the photos in the link that Mac gave me.
I'm going to chase one up.
Tony
tony
Lenovo lappie, 4Gb RAM, 500Gb HD
Ubuntu 12.04
Running BIAB under WINE
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