OT: Synthesizing a human finger

["Rick Walker (loop.pool)" <GLOBAL@cruzio.com>]

As a hand percussion (amonst other things), I've thought a lot about this
one and have come to this understanding:

A finger is the combination of a smooth, soft and pliable covering (skin)
with dense, yet lightweight structure underneath it (the bone).

When I describe the three basic conga strokes to beginning students I have
them imagine that there hands are like various mallets:

1)  the tips of their fingers (which produce slapping technique on conga)
are  like a stick with a thin leather covering,

2)  The first pad (or pad nearest to the hand) where we get our open tones
is like a regular felt covered mallet ( a softer covering but more mass
beneath it)

3)  The palm of the hand (where bass tones are produced on a conga) is like
a large gong mallet.   The covering is extraordinariy soft but there is
great weight and density behind it.

Consequently, when you try to design a 'human finger-eque' implement, you
have to think not only of the texture of the surface, but also of the 
weight
and density underneath it.

I believe that Regal Tip markets a leather covered stick that is there best
attempt at simulating a hand (this, so that trapset drummers can
approximate the sound of a hand hitting a conga with stick technique).   
You
might try this out.

Also,  super balls are kind of a perfect combination between a human finger
and a violin bow and can be used to 'bow' gongs, cymbals,
drum heads, the wooden keys on tongue drums, and anything where.

Failing this, one can always turn to cadavers ;-)

Good luck and let me know if you stumble on anything really cool and 
useful.
Yours,     Rick Walker (loop.pool)