Re: Synthesizing a human finger

["GARTH BOURNE" <garthbourne@home.com>]

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----- Original Message -----
From: "Rick Walker (loop.pool)" <GLOBAL@cruzio.com>
To: <Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com>
Sent: Friday, April 06, 2001 3:54 AM
Subject: OT: Synthesizing a human finger


> 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)
>
>