This is one of my first instruments (c.1981).
Prior to this I had made some experimental sound constructions,
but this was the first one that had the
look of a "real instrument".

It is shown above in three different views.
 
Its body is a wine crate
that was discarded by a restaurant,
where I was working at the time. 
I sealed it tight with glue and shellac
The tongs are made from bought hardwood dowels.
A decorative pattern was burned on them
with a heated 16p. nail
I work mainly with discarded items I find on the street,
but I do buy some hardware and am not a total purist
in terms of only using discards.

The main idea is that of a
Large African mbira or thumb piano hit with mallets.
In general the longer the tong the lower the note.
The mallets are tipped with cork or rubber.

The geometric pattern on the bottom
and the hammered tin on the front
are patches over the mistaken impression
that the box needed more holes for the sound to get out.

Be a virtual Gametone

Play the Gametone instruments

COMMENTS: my son's music project is to build an instrument, discribe its range of pitch,and write and play a compositoin. It is due by Dec. 21st! I found your website and thought maybe you could help. ------- you said on the title on the menu that this has Gamelan musical instruments in it. Come on! get your facts right ------- Yeah, you're right. These are by no means traditional Gamelan instruments. The resemblence is more in the way they sound, and how I approach playing them. Sorry if I delayed you a few seconds in your search for authenticity. Here's two good links for authentic Gamelan: http://www.cba.hawaii.edu/remus/gamelan/home.htm http://www.joglosemar.co.id/gamelan.html I need to find facts on Gamelan music but where are they? ------- ive got a dumb music project, help me -------

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