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Songwriter Forum => Recording => Topic started by: habiTat on November 06, 2012, 10:00:13 PM

Title: Makeshift Instruments
Post by: habiTat on November 06, 2012, 10:00:13 PM

I wondered if anyone ever used 'stuff from around the house' to record certain sounds for their songs. 

My recent Pawprint entry song features a 'tap, tap tap' on the guitar body and I know Simon and Garfunkel used a heavy chain crashing on a garage floor for the crash in 'The Boxer'.

Anyone else done this?

Any quirky ideas?

Title: Re: Makeshift Instruments
Post by: Michael on November 06, 2012, 11:18:46 PM

Funny you should mention this now... just a couple of days ago I spent an hour or so shaking a salt shaker in front of the microphone for my Pawprint song because I couldn't find a shaker sample I liked...
Felt really stupid during the recording  ;D but it did work in the end.

Been experimenting with glasses with different levels of water in them too, I liked the sound, but it's a pain getting them reasonably tuned.

Bet there are lots of really cool sounds one could get from things around the house, just experiment !

Title: Re: Makeshift Instruments
Post by: The Corsair on November 06, 2012, 11:25:45 PM

The Graveyard Train, arguably the manliest band ever, use the Hammer and Chain as an instrument. No joke.

Enter Shikari recently found themselves in need of a light shaker sound mixed in with the drums and got around this problem by taping a maraca to a drumstick. Yeah, instead of just having the singer or something hold the maraca...

Title: Re: Makeshift Instruments
Post by: tina m on November 06, 2012, 11:30:41 PM

i have experimented a lot with throwing things & smashing things in my house but never recorded any of it....it certainly makes you feel better

i once heard a long time ago that pink floyd tried to follow up dark side of the moon with this album they were doing composed on household 'instruments' etc but it just got impossible & they gave up
has anybody else heard that?

Title: Re: Makeshift Instruments
Post by: nooms on November 07, 2012, 12:12:26 AM

that was due probably to a panning problem tina

Title: Re: Makeshift Instruments
Post by: The Corsair on November 07, 2012, 12:13:56 AM

Quote from: nooms on November 07, 2012, 12:12:26 AM

that was due probably to a panning problem tina

Yeah, they couldn't get the pans to sound right, but the pots were great.

Title: Re: Makeshift Instruments
Post by: nooms on November 07, 2012, 12:15:42 AM

and you have to get them in sink

Title: Re: Makeshift Instruments
Post by: tina m on November 07, 2012, 10:25:42 AM

 you mean you have to kettle them in sync?

Title: Re: Makeshift Instruments
Post by: habiTat on November 07, 2012, 10:29:14 AM

I just wish i had a decent bowl for mixing  :D :D

Title: Re: Makeshift Instruments
Post by: nooms on November 07, 2012, 01:30:06 PM

dark side of the spoon

Title: Re: Makeshift Instruments
Post by: tina m on November 07, 2012, 02:39:46 PM

careful with that vax eugene

 have you had another biccie in the wall nooms

i should be working! 

Title: Re: Makeshift Instruments
Post by: tina m on November 07, 2012, 09:03:19 PM

come on i ll take you all on!

Title: Re: Makeshift Instruments
Post by: Boydie on November 07, 2012, 09:28:45 PM

I would play, but I'd only fork it up

Title: Re: Makeshift Instruments
Post by: habiTat on November 07, 2012, 09:33:44 PM

Is this thread working out?

Frayed Knot  :D