the Bowing a Cymbal in Water trick - Music Stuff With Spock #11

Music Stuff With Spock #11 takes another look at advanced techniques for cymbals - this time, the effect that happens to idiophones when they are lowered into a tub of water while vibrating.
I use a variety of cymbals, being struck, scraped and bowed - and use water to vary their pitch. Then I look at a few other idiophones: a triangle, woodblock, agogo bells and a glockenspiel. . . . and once again I am wearing my "Cheap Speakers" T-shirt.
Recorded in GarageBand, video made in iMovie - January 24, 2018

[@bacontrees]

Fits right in with my "Unusual Instruments" class.

[@spocksmusic]

I thought you'd like it.

[@anathorsis]

pretty tight dude, especially with reverb. never knew this technique existed! manual pitch shifting, hah!

[@spocksmusic]

Ya. Almost everything you can do with effects was originally attempted in some acoustic fashion. This is a sweet technique you don't see very often because of the logistical problem of having a vat of water in the midst of dozens of people. So many things can go wrong. Plus, it's hard to control and I would imagine, take a lot of practice to control - and not many people will or can do that. . . . however, it's not that big a deal if you have a stable container for practicing (as long as you never knock it over !!!!). I'm going to try this again. Someday I'll have a studio where I can just keep a metal vat full of water handy in a corner somewhere.

[@LeakedWisdom808]

Great playpen! The type of room that the Fire Safety Officer examines as routine but upon stepping inside, into the mains hum they become breathless, pale and weak. Their eyes widen only to perspire while imagining the insane amount of cable conduits and hidden PSU's. The sanctity of their visit meeting it's terminus only when they utter the words, 'I think I need my inhaler. It's in the car.'

[@spocksmusic]

Not to mention all the paper: my library and 40 years of manuscripts in shelves, boxes and in piles, wooden percussion, plastic hoses. Don't think I haven't thought of that. The older studios had much more room, or a huge closet or side room. Here, everything I have is crammed into about a 12 x 12 basement room; stuff on top of stuff. We hope to move someday . . . . .

[@WangleLine]

This sounds incredibly cool, thanks for this

[@spocksmusic]

You are welcome. It's a fun technique (but don't spill the water!!!)

[@Grovyle90]

So this is where minecraft cave ambience comes frome

[@spocksmusic]

Yup. Many things use that sound.

[@ViloSpice]

Real cool !

[@spocksmusic]

Thanks. I'll have to practice it to be able to control it. . . and that presents many logistical problems . . . but I agree, it is very cool.

[@ernestoalaimo]

Great demo man!!!

[@spocksmusic]

Thanks.

[@sp3ct3rsd3mos]

wonderful stuff!

[@spocksmusic]

Thank you.

[@spocksmusic]

By the way. . . the glue on my orchestra bells eventually softened (about six months or more later) and now I have to fix them. I would suggest only using this technique on instruments that can't be damaged by water (unless it's cheap and/or you don't care - because almost anything works, including flutes! - and I would assume, other wind instruments). Any plate, column of air - and I assume stringed instrument would be affected in some way.

[@Opranius]

That's great for getting the sound of undersea creatures, thanks! I even have a bow, just need a crash know :D

[@Opranius]

But how did you record it?

[@spocksmusic]

Until then, try it with a backing sheet, a music stand or anything that has a large metal plate. Just make sure the edge isn't surated. If you can run your finger across it and it doesn't pull or stick you can probably bow it. It needs an edge . . . and you bow it like a cymbal. have fun.

[@superfaststeve]

Did you know supertramp used it in their song crime of the century?

[@spocksmusic]

I did not. I wouldn't have understood what I was hearing at the time. I will have another listen to it.

[@timomengesdorf7113]

what size is the bow? is it from a violin, viola, cello or double bass?

[@spocksmusic]

The bow I am using in this video is a cello bow but a bass bow supposedly works best - but any bow will work to a certain extent. The thicker the bow/hair the more control you seem to have.

[@PedroMellodrums]

What do you put on the bow to do the friction?

[@spocksmusic]

Just regular resin. I like using bass resin because it's usually stickier.

[@jordynchan5103]

Very interesting sounds.

[@spocksmusic]

I thought so too.

[@xFliox]

You deserve way more followers

[@spocksmusic]

Thank you. Some day . . . .

[@spocksmusic]

Thank you. If I had money I would advertise. . . . some day.

[@xFliox]

I wish you the best :)

[@spocksmusic]

Thank you. To you as well.

[@prinzalbert905]

🧐🖤