Re: Loopable percussion (was: Tabla...)

["Dennis W. Leas" <dennis@mdbs.com>]

IMHO, Tabla are one of the ultimate drums.  At one point in my life I was
debating selling all my other instruments (over 150) and devoting myself to
the tabla.  Fortunately, this temporary mania passed.

Tabla are extremely versatile but I find it hard to get a good sound since
they're relatively quiet.  I usually use a pair of mics.  Good in the
studio, trouble on stage.  I haven't tried a pick-up yet.  After this
thread, I'm definitely going to!

Check-out the "mini-tablas" on http://www.tabla.com/tablahpg.html .  These
might work better for looping.

Also, I have an udu "drum" that works really well.  Lark in the Morning
lists them on this page:
http://www.larkinam.com/MenComNet/Business/Retail/Larknet/Africa .  Mine 
was
made by Frank Giorgini and I LOVE it.   I had the opportunity to speak with
Frank and can vouch for his integrity as an instrument maker.  My udu has a
small opening for a mic near the "snout".  I use a cheap Radio Shack mic
($25.00!) and EQ the H*** out of it.  I find the udu extremely expressive
and a lot easier to mic than the tabla.  Some useful techniques:
1) Boost the treble.  Tapping the udu sounds like claves.  Rubbing the udu
sounds like brushes on a snare drum.
2) Boost the bass.  While clapping one hand over an opening, insert your
thumb into the other opening.  The further into the udu you stick your
thumb, the lower the pitch.
3) Increase the volume until you're on the verge of feedback.  When you 
clap
your hand over an opening, the resonance increases, obtaining controlled
feedback.  Vary the pitch as in technique 2.  Rock out!

Dennis Leas
-----------------------------
dennis@mdbs.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Matthias Grob <matthias@grob.org>
To: Loopers-Delight@annihilist.com <Loopers-Delight@annihilist.com>
Cc: Edgar Silva <edgarzoca@sti.com.br>
Date: Thursday, April 08, 1999 4:34 PM
Subject: Loopable percussion (was: Tabla...)


>This thread seamed to go OT, but we are simply looking for percussion
>instruments that are easy to loop (no feeback and interference problems):