Graeme Leak
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One-String Tin Can Instrument Project

12/20/2017

3 Comments

 
Outline of plans to develop one-string fretted instruments and publish as I go during January 2018
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I have been building 'String Cans' since the mid nineties. My early designs featured a stretchy string across a high bridge and pitch was found using tension, not length. They are quite difficult to play in tune. The Graeme Leak String Quartet featured a range of sizes from bass to soprano. I made a particularly nice one for Patrick Cronin's 40th and immediately borrowed it back. He's never seen it since, except when we toured with the Spaghetti Western Orchestra. It even appeared on stage at the Royal Albert Hall. To see the video look here at the 11min mark. 

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I recently made a string can with a fret board  for my daughter Alex's 30th. The 'Imperial' uses a ruler and has two strings but remains fretless. I have borrowed it a few times... 

In Girgarre I found folks were way ahead of me. Their 'Junstrements' project was well underway, with some fantastic models using oil cans, biscuit tins, tennis rackets and milo cans. The standout is Wallace Williams' violin. This extraordinary piece is hand hammered from galvanised sheet metal and is a fully working, well trimmed and tuned fiddle. Wallace is a retired cow farmer in his eighties and is a fine musician and singer also.

JUNKESTRA
I have done a lot of work with junk and found percussion, and developed some ways of getting mixed skill level groups playing rhythms pretty quickly. See what happened after one rehearsal, also in Girgarre, earlier this year here. 

When I return to Girgarre next February we are going to put together a town 'Junkestra'. I want to add notes, melody and harmony to the junk rhythms and I've been wrestling with ideas for an instrument that can be easily made and played by non-musicians to do the job.

WHAT ABOUT..
How about we create six single-stringed, fretted instruments, each with one string that matches a guitar string? If six people pluck a note together it will sound (a bit) like an open chord on one guitar. I believe it will be possible for folks to learn to press a certain fret at a given moment to achieve some group chord changes and harmonies. Guitar, uke, banjo and mandolin players can join in reading a traditional chord chart. The Girgarre Junkestra will be on song!
3 Comments
Linda Burgdorf
12/23/2017 08:21:43 am

Loved being a parto f the Junkestra last April in Girgarre. A highlight of my musical journey. Thank you.

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Graeme Leak link
12/24/2017 03:40:56 am

thanks Linda - did you have trouble posting your comment? seems to be black on black typing so not so easy! must fix...

Reply
Backpack Ben link
12/9/2020 02:59:12 am

Great blog you have

Reply



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    MARCH 2018:
    PREPARING THE GARGARRO GALA

    An article written for the local Girgarre Gazette (to be published after Easter and previewed here) describes the process of creating an orchestra of locals with DIY instruments, then writing a major work for them.

    FEBRUARY 2018:
    BACK IN GIRGARRE

    Both the
    Music Supermarket and
    ​this Girgarre Blog now reactivated.

    JANUARY 2018:
    THE STRING CANS PROJECT
     is about splitting a guitar into six single-string tin-can instruments for use in community orchestras. 
    This blog documents it as it evolves. The blueprints will be published and available for free to anyone who would like to build one.
    STRING CANS
    Change the music world,
    one string at a time.
    INTRO 20 Dec 2017
    INSPIRATION 24 Dec 2017

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