Heavy Metal: The Physics of DIY Instruments

Composer and instrument builder Paul Rudolph makes music from garbage. He combs recycling centers and scrap yards for what he calls "found object instruments"--propane tanks, film reels, artillery shells and other items that he likes the sound of. Rudolph sometimes modifies the objects and then uses the newly-minted percussive instruments in his music performance group GLANK, which has appeared at the Eagle Rock Music Festival in Los Angeles and Maker Faire in New York City. John Powell, physicist and author of How Music Works, chimes in on the physics of making music.

[@20041918r]

3:20 fire beat

[@leoleo-tr7oj]

I've been studying constructing marimbas and discovered an awesome website at Delfords magic plan (google it if you are interested)

[@Hombolicious]

that's just straight up cool :)

[@cassmi87]

But imagine when it's added into the mix with other instruments. You'd get a unique sounding piece.

[@dhavlena]

Neat Paul!
Dennis (Hank-drum) Havlena

[@quietthomas]

What's the car part he's holding at 3:16 - I know it's an auto part I've just forgotten which part. Any help?

[@paulrudolph4842]

+quietthomas - it's two pieces of a Ford transmission

[@quietthomas]

Cool! Thanks for that Paul Rudolph :)

[@MeepullStewray]

neato

[@shiningarmor2838]

This is not metal at all

[@Liljohnnyprod]

Shining Armor no.technically it is metal

[@isetta4083]

that's the joke, everything is made out of recycled Metal, thus making it metal music, but not metal-music.

[@SkaYouth]

@@isaacduplantis1114 because the metal instrument is heavy. look at the size..