Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments

Subject: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: Big Ballad Singer
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 11:45 AM

I don't know if I have mentioned this in my other threads, but from time to time, I have done work as a clown at birthday parties and other special events.

I play the kazoo, slide whistle, bird whistle and bike horn. I have also built a "kazumpet" from a trumpet with a kazoo for a mouthpiece.

What other goofy/silly instruments are there? Even just plain old "noisemakers". It seems I have gotten a few referrals from friends and people have just waited quite some time before contacting me about performing at their functions.

Oh, I also play the uke, but I only have a soprano that was bought for my kids, and it's way too small for me to play anything but 1st position, one-finger chords on.

I also love to make music with found objects or re-purposed items like funnels, doorbells, etc.

What else is there?

Subject: RE: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: Acorn4
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 02:34 PM

The melodeon!!

Subject: RE: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 02:43 PM

The great Dennis Brain once played a horn concerto on 24 foot of garden hose with a funnel on the end.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: Jane of 'ull
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 03:21 PM

Have you seen this guy with the horns? Very funny :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuZbyxqTNFQ

Subject: RE: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: PHJim
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 03:35 PM

Washboard, nose flute, those clog-dancers that dance on a board. Have you seen the Fallopian Tuba that Washboard Hank plays?

Subject: RE: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: PHJim
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 03:54 PM

The Fallopian tuba is made from a kitchen sink and a bunch of PVC pipe. The washboard started as a washboard, but there is very little of the original washboard left. a license plate and an oven grill have taken the place of the worn out zinc and Hank nails something new on it every few weeks.

Washboard and Fallopian tuba

Subject: RE: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 03:57 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usswJAYPb_o

Subject: RE: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: GUEST,SRD
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 05:10 PM

Theremin

Subject: RE: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: Crowhugger
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 05:47 PM

If you have a bow, playing a saw always attracts a lot of attention, and can sound pretty decent with practice.

Subject: RE: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: Little Robyn
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 06:46 PM

There's an ad on telly here in NZ with supermarket employees taking fruit and vegetables and carving them up to make instruments. Carrot mouthpieces, blowing things that have half a hollowed out melon on the end, 'guitars' made from tin cans and a long stick of wood with strings attached and lots more.
Here it is.
Might give you some ideas.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 10:55 PM

You have always presented yourself with "William G" type qualities.

EVERY legitimate "clown" has a "copyright" face. What is yours?

Subject: RE: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: Alan Day
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 03:37 AM

The miniature concertina has always been used as a clowns instrument.They were made with traditional steel reeds and amongst the greatest players was Tommy Elliott who had a miniature English Concertina and played with vibrato (bellows shake, fast push pull) style. He made a big thing out of taking it out of the case, as did others, using a massive box to carry it on stage and lifting it out of the box and talking to it like a baby.A wonderful artist and player. His Daughter Viona, part of the "Musical Elliott's " is still alive and well.
Al

Subject: RE: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: GUEST,GUEST, Mark Bluemel
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 04:46 AM

Jim Couza had a hammered dulcimer he'd made from a stainless steel sink and drainer.

I seem to remember he threatened us with Handel's "Water Music", but actually played something caribbean - which worked rather well as the instrument had something of a steel drum's timbre.

Subject: RE: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: treewind
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 09:00 AM

"taking fruit and vegetables and carving them up to make instruments"
Which reminds me. Check out Linsey Pollak...

Subject: RE: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: Big Ballad Singer
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 10:35 AM

Many great ideas... thanks, gang!

GUEST, I don't know who "William G" is, nor do I know what qualities I have presented that may or may not be similar to his.

I have not, as yet, copyrighted a "face", as most of my "clowning" over the years has been more in the George Carl tradition of prop comedy. I only started using anything resembling "traditional" clown makeup, etc over the last year or so.

I shall, however, post pictures when the complete "look" is together. Right now, when I do parties, I choose from a rather large collection of goofy clothes I have gathered over time. There is a particular character that is being created just now to complement my street act, so I will show him off to you all in due time.

Miniature concertina... wonder where I might even find one? I don't have the bread to buy one, but maybe I can do some bartering... hmmm... you know, a miniature ANYTHING looks hysterical when it's played by a fee-fi-fo-fum as big as me. ;)

Subject: RE: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: Jack Campin
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 11:17 AM

Search for "taquinaphone" on YouTube.

Subject: RE: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: Jack Campin
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 11:37 AM

This guy gets through a lot of them in a very short video

Instruments amagats

Subject: RE: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 04:00 PM

Guest, SRD posted one word, Theremin. That opened all sorts of doors for me. Click here and see Wikipedia.
Oh, yeah, I'd heard of THAT....but I'd forgotten all about it.
Thanks, SRD.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: saulgoldie
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 04:09 PM

I found Tom's instrument and his mastery of it phenomenal!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwcJOxRWCcc


Saul

Subject: RE: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: Jack Campin
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 04:30 PM

Intriguing. He's the only player besides me I've seen playing a washboard in fore-and-aft orientation. (I have no gizmos attached to mine, but I use ten thimbles at once, which allows for far more complex rhythms than he's doing).

Subject: RE: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: Crowhugger
Date: 11 Aug 11 - 12:59 PM

For vegetable ocarinas & other flutes, this guy's multiple videos on the subject include a detailed demo of how to make the carrot version.

Subject: RE: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 12 Aug 11 - 05:48 AM

Jack, I'm another fore 'n' afty w'board player (6 thimbles). Only additions are 3 clapperless Greek goatbells.

RtS

Subject: RE: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Aug 11 - 12:17 PM

BBS...do I have the *ahem* ínstrument(s) for you!
I have a bunch...(like thousands)... of pink plastic 'stall warning inserts' for older aircraft. They are just a little ¼"diameter, round gadget with a metal 'reed' inserted. They were put into the trailing edges of small plane wings, and if the airspeed dropped below a safe point, the wind would whistle thru them, causing a high-pitched squeal.

So... you can blow into one, sorta like a kazoo, and harder blowing changes their 'basic' pitch...but... each one has a different basic pitch! So, one could create instruments with them by embedding/inserting them in various holders..(it seems they fit into the end of a plastic drinking straw). I have also drilled holes in wood and make something like kazoos with them.

(They are pretty small, so one needs to be careful not to inhale when using them 'naked'...and not let small kids play with them.)

Heck....I'll take a picture or two of plain and embedded ones and post it later today.

Subject: RE: Silly/Goofy/Clowny instruments
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Aug 11 - 03:27 PM

Ok... I think this will work ok

tweeter gadgets

(these things were manufactured in Italy many years ago... I got them from a surplus store I worked at in the mid 50s)