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!
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.
Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 6:48 pm
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.
Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 7:00 pm
by laterallateral
Oh yeah...
You have to learn this.
[youtube][/youtube]
Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 8:50 pm
by westtexasred
Wow! I wanted one of those since I first saw Dark Shadows in the '60.
[youtube][/youtube]
Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 8:53 pm
by Bacchus
Cool!
I'd love a theremin but I don't think I'd have the patience at all.
Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 9:26 pm
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]
Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 9:46 pm
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.
Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 9:49 pm
by Dillon
Score! I really want a theremin. I love surf / spacey type rock, and it just sounds so much better with a theremin.
Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 9:54 pm
by Gavin
That's right, they call it "aerial fingering".
That's what she said.
Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 10:05 pm
by laterallateral
"Aerial" is as close to fingering as this dude's gonna get.
Hyuck, hyuck
[youtube][/youtube]
Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 10:06 pm
by Gavin
His theremin really sounds lovely though, it's like a real voice.
Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 10:16 pm
by endsjustifymeans
Gavin wrote:His theremin really sounds lovely though, it's like a real voice.
creepy, that.
Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 6:56 am
by Dave
Thomas Grillo: Thereminist ....and lover of wiminz
Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 8:17 am
by Viljami
Infinitely jealous! It really doesn't get much cooler than a theremin.
RAWK!
Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 9:06 am
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.
Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 9:33 am
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!
Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 10:06 am
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]
Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 3:34 pm
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.
Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 3:36 pm
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.
Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 3:41 pm
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!