I just need an idea to make a feasible, working instrument on which I can play a recognizable song. It doesn't have to be complicated, but I am limited to my own handiwork and the materials found in my own house. I'm also supposed to play the song without telling my classmates what song it is, and I only get credit if they can recognize the song. This basically eliminates simple string plucking and maracas. Any ideas and suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
2007-03-25 08:44:09 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Performing Arts
CInna has an idea, but I think it's waxed paper. I used to do it when I was a kid. You hum into it.
2007-03-25 09:50:40 · answer #1 · answered by violamom74 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use 8 glass jars or bottles. The easiest bottles to use are beer bottles, if you are in a high school, probably use the jars or somehow paint the beer bottles so that they are less offensive.
Next, fasten the bottles/jars to a long piece of wood. After that, fill the bottles so that they tune to a major scale (if you have a keyboard or any instrument avaible- even if you have a friend that plays). Just play the first note, fill the bottle so it matches. Cap the bottle off. I would actually start from the highest note first. Make sure to label the bottles as you go so you know the notes.
Play it with spoons. If you do 8 bottles, you have an entire octave. If you can't find 8, 5 will do. There are a lot of songs that only use 5 notes!
Another idea is to find a tub or bucket (5 gal) of some sort. Drill a hole in the center of the bottom. Pull a string through and knot it on the inside (so it stays put). Tie the other end of the string to a large stick so when it is standing upright, the string is tight. Put one foot on top of the bucket, use one hand to hold and move the stick. Use the other hand to pluck the string. You should be able to change the pitch of the string by moving the stick to make the string looser and tighter.
Good luck! Sounds like fun!
2007-03-26 03:13:41 · answer #2 · answered by Sarah S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take a piece of paper folded in two and put a hair comb in the crease with the tines pointing at the crease. Place the crease gently in your mouth with jaw and lips relaxed. Now hum. You can get a pretty good kazoo sound from this. The better you hum the more recognizable your song will be. Good luck and have fun.
2007-03-25 16:42:25 · answer #3 · answered by chris s 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I don't know how musically profecient you are, but here's something I learned. Its a homeade french horn. Take a length of water hose, and cut to 6ft in length. The side that has the threaded part will be the mouthpiece. Coil it aroud, and place funnel on the other end. Buzz your lips into one end, like any brass instrument, and you're set. You don't need, keys, valves or anything, just your lips. The Atlanta Symphony has a childrens section, on building your own horn to toot, let me see if I can find a link! Best of luck.
2007-03-25 12:54:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a very old idea but might be just what you need because it is so simple and it actually works. Take a plain old comb and a piece of tissue paper(like the paper you put in gift bags) and blow on the comb while moving from one end to the other.With just a little practice you can play a tune.
2007-03-25 09:02:33 · answer #5 · answered by Cinna 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I knew the song, or a similar instrument you're thinking of I could be a big help.
Only you know what kind of instrument you want to create, so just pull out the weirdest things and put them together. & don't tell me you can't and that you need help, because I don't believe it. You must have some crazy creativity inside you somewhere.
2007-03-25 09:43:57 · answer #6 · answered by rocklovex 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you may make a primitive string device with a small container or different field, connect a follow one aspect, and stretch string or rubber bands from the acceptable of the container to the acceptable of the stick. that's amazingly not ordinary to describe without drawing a photo. you may also make a primitive double reed device with a soda straw. again, a drawing could help. Drums may be produced from cans of different sizes, or pans. Brass instruments may be produced from funnels or tubing. Flutes may be made by technique of reducing hollow reeds or tubes to different lengths and blowing by the ends. Bottles of liquid of differing depths will make different pitches at the same time as tapped or by technique of blowing by the acceptable like a flute. in case you've been to make easily one of each of those primitive instruments you may in all likelihood get a very solid grade. they're all easy and easy to do.
2016-12-02 19:09:25 · answer #7 · answered by dymke 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Crystal glasses.
Get some glasses and fill them up in increments.
If you rub your finger on the edge, it makes a humming sound.
The frequency depends on the height of the water inside the glass.
2007-03-25 08:47:34 · answer #8 · answered by beavis n butthead 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is very very out there, but you could try crystal glasses w/ water in them. the more water, the lower the sound. do just a simple hot-cross-buns melody... it's simple, and requires only 3 notes.
2007-03-25 10:35:44 · answer #9 · answered by miki2010vln2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you have some tubes...preferrably a bigger than straws...and cut them into different lengths and glue them to a board or whatever...and blow into them like you would a bottle, the different lengths will make different pitches and you could do the song that way...I remember having to do a project similar to that...hope it helps!
2007-03-25 08:54:46 · answer #10 · answered by IndiHippi 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋