Tuesday 10 January 2012

String Bass...Literally

When I was in Vanuatu a couple of years ago, the bands there were playing what they called "string bass". This was essentially a wooden crate with a stick jammed into the top at one corner with a thin nylon rope running from the top of the stick to the box.

Having a go. It's harder than it looks.

This kid was playing it, with one knee up on the box and the other barely touching the floor. He would sort of punch his right hand past the rope and "pluck" it with his thumb, while his left hand moved the stick back and forth to change the pitch of the note.

He was brilliant, and it sounded great. I couldn't get the thing to go "boom", not even once. I hope I never have to repair one.

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