3 - CATERPILLAR DRUM GUITAR / SLIDE GUITAR
Jun 9 th 2012 Rotterdam NL
The Caterpillar is an instrument which can be used as a noise drum guitar in the tradition of Glenn Branca’s ‘Mallet Guitars’ as well as a convenient bowed instrument or a more traditional slide guitar commonly used in country music. With two drum sticks you can easily develop a percussive sliding technique with one stick functioning as a slide to select a pitch and with the other stick you hit the sliding stick. The instrument also functions well with drum techniques such as double strokes and bouncing. The instrument features two pickups. It can be used as a stereo instrument and creates a beautiful audio spectrum at recording sessions when two amps are being used. A switch can change the stereo signal in a mono set up which is easier for live situations. Three musical scales are drawn on the instrument that all together clarify the played tones and the harmonic positions. The color dotted series are equal to the system used on the Home Swinger. Two small movable bridges allow the player to select four fundamental tones. The participants pay for their own materials. Each workshop is limited to 16 persons. Duration of the workshop is approximately four hours. Melt-Banana, HEALTH, Women, Garçon Taupe, Philippe Petit (3) and Ice, Sea, Dead People own copies of the Caterpillar Drum Guitar. The instrument is featured in Women’s final Pitchfork.tv special, filmed just before they broke up.
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