Experimental musical instrument

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An experimental musical instrument (or custom-made instrument) is a musical instrument that is considered to be of one's own design or a modification or extension of a defined guideline of a certain instrument. Many examples of custom-made instruments can be found throughout the world. Some are created through simple modifications such as cracked drum cymbals. Some instruments are modified to create an easier playing feel, such as filing down frets on guitars. Many custom-made instruments are created from household items like a home made mute for brass instruments in which the musician could use anything from pots and pans, to bathtub plugs or even pieces of garbage.

[edit] Examples

• Fifty Foot Hose created one of the first homemade synthesizers in 1967. They also use spark machines, the Guitube (a 3 sided bass slide guitar), and the Hologlyphic Funkalizer (a holographic video synthesizer and musical instrument).^{[citation needed]}
• Wolfgang Flür and Florian Schneider created the world's first playable electronic percussion pads from a gutted organ that originally contained a rhythm machine with preset patterns.
• Future Man from Bela Fleck and the Flecktones has manufactured a drum machine out of spare parts and created an electronic machine called a Synthaxe Drumitar.
• Pat Metheny uses custom built Manzer guitars built by Linda Manzer.
• The Shulberry is an electric custom instrument created primarily by Derek Shulman, a Shulman brother in the popular progressive rock band Gentle Giant and built by roadie Frank Covey.
• In 2006 Yuri Landman created the Moodswinger, an electric 12-string third bridge overtone zither for Aaron Hemphill of the Liars.
• German band Einstürzende Neubauten uses many different kinds of metal (plates, springs, pipes, canisters, cans, plastic, etc.) as instruments, in addition to custom built instruments constructed by band member N.U. Unruh.
• Some experimental Hydraulophones have been made using various pipe fittings, etc..

[edit] Publications

• Experimental Musical Instruments (EMI) was a periodical published by Bart Hopkins, a leader in 20th century experimental music design and construction. Though no longer in print, back issues are still available.

• Proceedings of the International Computer Music Conference (ICMC)

• Proceedings of the New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME) conference

[edit] See also

[edit] Builders of custom-made instruments

• Glenn Branca
• Leila Bela
• John Cage
• Ivor Darreg
• Yuri Landman
• Neptune
• Harry Partch
• Bradford Reed
• Hans Reichel
• Luigi Russolo
• Iner Souster
• Ellis Guitars
• Uakti

[edit] Experimental musical instruments

• 3rd Bridge
• Bazantar
• Luthéal
• Daxophone
• Folgerphone
• Gittler guitar
• Kraakdoos
• Long string instrument
• Moodswinger
• Moonlander
• Pencilina
• Sea organ

[edit] Bands who play experimental custom-made instruments

• Fifty Foot Hose
• Doo-rag
• Einstürzende Neubauten
• Fred Frith
• Neptune
• Les Luthiers
• Sleepytime Gorilla Museum
• Charlie Hunter
• James Michael Thompson
• Jeff Martin
• Uakti
• Futureman

[edit] External links

• oddmusic, a website dedicated to unique, odd, ethnic, experimental and unusual musical instruments and resources.
• EMI
• www.siegelproductions.ca, a picture gallery of unusual instruments