NTD: New Theremin Day

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astro
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NTD: New Theremin Day

Post by astro »

So I was browsing Craigslist and I saw an ad for a guy selling a nearly new and mint condition Moog Etherwave theremin for $300. I couldn't resist!

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Man this thing is cool! Making sound effects is easy and fun, but learning to play a melody in tune is going to take a fair bit of practicing since it's not as easy as it looks!

The tone is quite rich, almost human like at times, like a violin also. The instrument is surprisingly expressive, if I can get competent at playing it I think I'm going to be making good use of it. Unfortunately there isn't much in terms of materials available when it comes to "how to play" or method books or videos, what I've found tends to be pretty basic and general. I guess I'll just have to experiment.
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laterallateral
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Post by laterallateral »

That's awesome! I've been considering getting a Theremin, too. I saw a couple good local deals, including a $100 kit Theremin but that Moog one is a much better instrument.

I could never play a Theremin consistantly. I just drink way too much coffee for that.
Last edited by laterallateral on Fri Sep 19, 2014 3:05 pm; edited 115,726 times in total
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Post by laterallateral »

Oh yeah...
You have to learn this.

[youtube][/youtube]
Last edited by laterallateral on Fri Sep 19, 2014 3:05 pm; edited 115,726 times in total
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Post by westtexasred »

Wow! I wanted one of those since I first saw Dark Shadows in the '60.

[youtube][/youtube]
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Post by Bacchus »

Cool!

I'd love a theremin but I don't think I'd have the patience at all.
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Post by Dave »

There's a method of using the fingers extended in increments to get more acurate notage...saw a someone doing it on youtube...will have a dig for it...

here:

[youtube][/youtube]
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Post by astro »

laterallateral wrote:That's awesome! I've been considering getting a Theremin, too. I saw a couple good local deals, including a $100 kit Theremin but that Moog one is a much better instrument.

I could never play a Theremin consistantly. I just drink way too much coffee for that.
The coffee could make for a good vibrato technique!
laterallateral wrote:Oh yeah...
You have to learn this.

[youtube][/youtube]
That's probably the first melody I thought of when thinking what I must play on the theremin once I'm capable!

Black Cat Bone wrote:There's a method of using the fingers extended in increments to get more acurate notage...saw a someone doing it on youtube...will have a dig for it...

here:

[youtube][/youtube]
That's right, they call it "aerial fingering". I've playing around trying to do it, but it's going to take a lot of practice for me to be able to hit the right notes. The instrument is so sensitive that even changing your finger's position by a few millimeters will alter the pitch.
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Post by Dillon »

Score! I really want a theremin. I love surf / spacey type rock, and it just sounds so much better with a theremin.
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Post by Gavin »


That's right, they call it "aerial fingering".
That's what she said.
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Post by laterallateral »

"Aerial" is as close to fingering as this dude's gonna get.
Hyuck, hyuck

[youtube][/youtube]
Last edited by laterallateral on Fri Sep 19, 2014 3:05 pm; edited 115,726 times in total
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Post by Gavin »

His theremin really sounds lovely though, it's like a real voice.
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Post by endsjustifymeans »

Gavin wrote:His theremin really sounds lovely though, it's like a real voice.
creepy, that.
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Post by Dave »

Thomas Grillo: Thereminist ....and lover of wiminz
iCEByTes wrote:5 Most Jizz face maker Solo�s , classic Rock music i ever listened.
iCEByTes wrote:Blunt a joint , Take the Touch , Listen this.
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Post by Viljami »

Infinitely jealous! It really doesn't get much cooler than a theremin.
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Post by Mages »

ok, after I saw this I went to search youtube for clara rockmore videos.


wow.


[youtube][/youtube]

there's a bunch more videos on there of her amazing playing. there's also this one from the same time, interviewing her and robert moog.

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Post by lorez »

Black Cat Bone wrote:There's a method of using the fingers extended in increments to get more acurate notage...saw a someone doing it on youtube...will have a dig for it...

here:

[youtube][/youtube]
I didn't know Jim Cornette played the theramin?

Sure to do a shortscale demo of that beast!
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Post by stewart »

the star trek theme was done on an ondes martenot, fact fans. i've always read that there was a theremin on 'good vibrations', but it could well be an ondes martenot too. see this, for example:

[youtube][/youtube]
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Post by astro »

stewart wrote:the star trek theme was done on an ondes martenot, fact fans. i've always read that there was a theremin on 'good vibrations', but it could well be an ondes martenot too. see this, for example:

[youtube][/youtube]
I might be wrong, but I think the original Star Trek melody is actually sung by human, but inspired by the theremin sound.

I think the Beach Boys actually did use a Theremin in the recording studio, but live they used an "electro-theremin" (LANK), which is like the Ondes Martenot but with just the sliding mechanism and no piano style keys.
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Post by Bacchus »

Does an ondes martenot actually have keys? I thought it had like a map sort of thing underneath the sliding wire/bar so that the player could easily find pitches. I've never seen one, though.

There's one in Messaien's Turangalia Symphony. I haven't listened to that in a while. I think I will tonight.
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Post by astro »

lorez wrote:
Sure to do a shortscale demo of that beast!
I'd love to, but right now I can't do anything but random noise with the thing!