Learning a new instrument

[TritoneAddiction]

During my Christmas holiday I suddenly felt a strong urge to check out new acoustic instruments. I suspect it's some sort of reaction to constantly hearing about all the AI and technology advancements. Going back to play acoustic instruments and learning to draw with simple pen and paper seems like the natural response for me.

I've been particularly drawn to instruments that aren't the typical piano/keyboard, guitar, bass, drum kit. Nothing wrong with those instruments, but I wanted to broaden my horizons a bit and get outside of what I already know.

After going through a bunch of random instruments on Thomann's site there were I few that for whatever reason peaked my interest a little extra.
Tongue drums, Ocarinas and Kalimbas.
I've already bough myself a kalimba from a music shop in my town. Though it's a small instrument and is kind of looked upon as a toy, you can actually do quite a lot with it. Once you get your head around it and practise a bit you can play melodies and chords or bass notes at the same time.
I've also ordered two types of tongue drums, one pretty cheap drum and another one on the pricier side called RAV VAST. I'm not sure I even new this type of instrument existed before. It's basically a drum with a bunch of "tongues" you can play notes on. So it's like a percussive note instrument. I suspect I'm gonna have the most fun with this one.

RAV VAST


And the third one, the Ocarina I'll order one soon. I've never played a wind instrument ever in my life. I guess it's time to give it a shot.

I think I'll let myself be in this "acoustic phase" for a while before I return to the electronic stuff. I've done so much music on the computer lately. Who knows, maybe after some time both these worlds will meet?

[PhillipOrdonez]

Awesome! Can’t wait to hear it all!

Those look a lot like hand pan drums, the Afro house and organic house crowds are crazy about those. What’s the difference?

[TritoneAddiction]

Awesome! Can’t wait to hear it all!

Those look a lot like hand pan drums, the Afro house and organic house crowds are crazy about those. What’s the difference?

They have similarities but aren't the same. Hand pan drums doesn't have any cut out tongues. But all these seem to belong to the same family.

[bxbrkrz]

[selig]

That was quite helpful, would not have been able to differentiate between the two before watching.
Never knew about the RAV VAST but have heard hand pans for years, cool instrument (and the SUSTAIN!).

[bxbrkrz]

yt vid

That was quite helpful, would not have been able to differentiate between the two before watching.
Never knew about the RAV VAST but have heard hand pans for years, cool instrument (and the SUSTAIN!).

[motuscott]

Physically manipulating music making tools is just about the funnest thing ever.
To me music is the perfect blend of physical and mental.

[Jackjackdaw]

Like the OP said, all this AI shit has really ticked me off. Not least because of the soulless dweebs who invent this stuff thinking they have some godlike power. This AI stuff is going to look as lame as interactive CD roms and Ask Jeeves in a few years, just another tech hype bubble absorbed into mundane tasks. Ripping out a screaming solo on an instrument to a fat beat will always be cool and sexy and all the things those dweebs will never be.

[DaveyG]

Like the OP said, all this AI shit has really ticked me off. Not least because of the soulless dweebs who invent this stuff thinking they have some godlike power. This AI stuff is going to look as lame as interactive CD roms and Ask Jeeves in a few years, just another tech hype bubble absorbed into mundane tasks. Ripping out a screaming solo on an instrument to a fat beat will always be cool and sexy and all the things those dweebs will never be.

Haha. Good rant and one I agree with wholeheartedly. Although I'm not sure TA will be managing a screaming solo on a zen-like tongue drum, at least not in the conventional sense.

BTW, I almost fell off my chair at the price of those Rav Vast Drums. I could tell from the pics that they weren't going to be cheap but even allowing for that I was more than surprised at the prices. I make it about $120 per note

[jam-s]

Well, you can DIY one for far less money if you're willing to invest the time instead. e.g.

[TritoneAddiction]

BTW, I almost fell off my chair at the price of those Rav Vast Drums. I could tell from the pics that they weren't going to be cheap but even allowing for that I was more than surprised at the prices. I make it about $120 per note

Yeah I certainly had no plans to buy a new instrument at that price originally. An instrument I have no prior experience with. Not sure I can justify it completely. But I have the money. And I want it. So I figured, fuck it let's just buy it. You only live once.

[TritoneAddiction]

Well, you can DIY one for far less money if you're willing to invest the time instead. e.g.

Unless you already have the proper tools needed I suspect it won’t be much cheaper. Especially after all the inevitable trial and error. But I can certainly see the fun in making your own instrument.

I think making your own basic Tongue drum that’s comparable to the cheaper models might work. But I would be really impressed with anyone making an instrument on the level of the Rav Vast. Imo it just sounds (and looks) more expensive.

[DaveyG]

BTW, I almost fell off my chair at the price of those Rav Vast Drums. I could tell from the pics that they weren't going to be cheap but even allowing for that I was more than surprised at the prices. I make it about $120 per note

Yeah I certainly had no plans to buy a new instrument at that price originally. An instrument I have no prior experience with. Not sure I can justify it completely. But I have the money. And I want it. So I figured, fuck it let's just buy it. You only live once.

I reckon you should entitle your first calm, meditative tune "Fuck it, You Only Live Once". Or maybe it could be a whole EP.
The good news is that although each note costs you $120 subsequent uses of the same note are free.

Anyway, I'm off to buy a dozen Woks and some welding rods. That guy's welding is worse than mine, which is quite an achievement.

[TritoneAddiction]

Yeah I certainly had no plans to buy a new instrument at that price originally. An instrument I have no prior experience with. Not sure I can justify it completely. But I have the money. And I want it. So I figured, fuck it let's just buy it. You only live once.

I reckon you should entitle your first calm, meditative tune "Fuck it, You Only Live Once". Or maybe it could be a whole EP.
The good news is that although each note costs you $120 subsequent uses of the same note are free.

Anyway, I'm off to buy a dozen Woks and some welding rods. That guy's welding is worse than mine, which is quite an achievement.

Great title. And a great way to stick out from from the regular Rav Vast crowd too.

I was actually on and off about the Rav Vast purchase for some time. What really made me pull the trigger was after my brother and I were in a car accident on New Year's Day. Luckily no one was hurt. But the sense of not taking a long life for granted really kicked in. If you want to do something, you better do it NOW, while you can.

[Jackjackdaw]

Price seems pretty reasonable to me. If that’s what you’re after. Plenty of instruments will charge you a grand just to get in the door.

[PhillipOrdonez]

“Fuck it, yolo” will be an even more grating title to the rav vast crowd ears.

[jam-s]

Anyway, I'm off to buy a dozen Woks and some welding rods. That guy's welding is worse than mine, which is quite an achievement.

Yes, his welding is really bad. So in the end he trashed the first pan and simply redid it without welding and only used the dremel and jigsaw to cut the tongues and let some skilled person do the welding of both halves. Having a jigsaw and a dremel at home is not a bad or uncommon choice if you're into doing some DIY.

[motuscott]

Totes agree, abominable welding skills
Awaiting Reas13 WeldingRE to skip to chase.
The primitive art one can achieve with these plugins is truly impressive.

[TritoneAddiction]

A little update
Got myself an ocarina about a week ago. So now I have a small collection of new instruments. I spent quite a bit of money on all these, but I have zero regrets. I'm having so much fun with them and I switch between them constantly.
Having never played a wind instrument before the ocarina confused me at first, but after playing it for about a week now I feel like I'm starting to get the hang of it. It's really fun.
Pretty much every ocarina expert on youtube seems to recommend buying a cheaper model at first (though not the absoulte cheapest crap) with a single chamber. I went ahead and did the opposite. Bought myself one with double chambers and also a bit pricier and also in a non standard key. So I did everything wrong apparently. But honestly I trust that I have the patience to practise and learn. It's so much more fun playing on a good instrument right away that you feel drawn too. And I like that the tuning is lower than the regular ones.

I am a little worried that I have taken up an expensive new hobby of buying new and exotic instruments. I'm not convinced that I will stop here since I still find myself very curious when it comes to looking up new instruments.

[TritoneAddiction]

Just bought myself one of these. It's called an Udu drum. It's really fun to play.

Man I'm gonna have to a break from all the instrument purchases for a while. It's getting out of hand.