I first saw this type of instrument in a documentary about
composer David Fanshaw, who was collecting sounds of the South Pacific
for a musical composition. 
Then I saw the Blue Man Group playing their wacky version.  
People tell me that there is a Brazilian version that is very similar
in arrangement to what I have done here. 
I have also heard of Thai, African and Bosnian  versions. 
The Bosnian version supposedly has resonating drone strings
running down the length of the tubes. 

  It is basically a long tube that  you whack the end of with a rubber paddle. 
The note depends on the length of the tube. 
The tubes are made out of taped together 32 oz juice cans
scrounged from the trash of the elementary school
across the street from me. 
I painted them to resemble bamboo. 
I think it's unique sound comes from the subtle combination
of the different sounds that come from the two openings. 
For this reason it is very hard to capture it's sound on recording.
I've recently disassembled and discarded some of this beast as it was in need of extensive repair,
and I have acquired a bunch of thrown out 3" PVC pipe that has a much more resonant sound.
A tenet of Feng Shui is that every time you bring something new into the house,
something old should leave.

Here's a Real Audio link to a song from the Gametones first session at
the Museum of Sound Recording's "Sessions Night" on 12/7/96
Hear CitiZen One tell the sad story of Doggie Doggie
It features the Slapophone.
This cut also features the Slapophone.
Devil's Holiday
             

Play the Gametone instruments

COMMENTS: ........Um..Have you got material on C.D.s? ....Love to hear it......PLEASE! -Nedmac ------- Thats a percussion aerophone, not a Slapophone! Slapophones (or more comonly "Slapaphones") are tuneable and not open ended. ------- If someone else is using slapaphone for the name of their instrument, more power to them. It's just a funny name for a silly, though probably ancient, instrument. I'm sure the folks of the South Pacific aren't calling it an aerophone or a slapowhatever. But I came up with the name "slapophone" about ten years ago out of my own twisted little mind. I've also used the spelling slapaphone, slappafone and probably more. It makes no difference to me, I never trademarked it, but it would be cool to get my props for the coinage. I don't doubt that a fellow instrument maker could come up with the name independently. It is a fairly obvious name for the beast, I've shown many people how to make them, and told them my name for it. If they have the entrepreneurial will to make some money out of it, that's their life choice not mine. I'd rather make my music than manufacture and sell instruments. Can you show me some documentation on the use of that name before 1990? Send it to gametone@wrybread.com Mike Natale, NYC ------- how do i play the gametone instruments? ------- what is that how do u kniw where all of those keys r ------- Awesome, Man! Narf! ------- What in the F IS THIS ------- What are you going to do about it ------- There was a 'slapaphone' (or slapophone) at Main Street Music store in Stroudsburg, PA. I believe it was around six 'tubes' of different sizes lined up. It sounded great. I don't know what they were made of though. One day I went in to purchase it (for 50 bucks) and it was gone. The guy at the store believed that someone from a store in NY city bought it. Where can I get one?? ------- how do you make this ------- man these are awesome this is sweet ------- what is that ------- Your site tells absolutely nothing about how to make a homemade instument. To put it simply, this site sucks majorly. -someone who thinks this site really bites ------- Who said this site was about handing you the answers to your homework assignment? Not me. But if you can't get some ideas for your project on this site, you just haven't looked. I bet you were assigned the project three months ago and it was due yesterday. Hope whatever lame thing you end up scotch-taping together tonight gets a D- :) Mike ------- Saron ------- This site is really cool. It has given me some ideas for my own instruments. Jose ------- it is great ------- i'm kinda confused soooooooo teach me teach me nowww -------

Entire Contents ©1998-2003 Gametone Universe
Please ask before reproducing anything.