What Instrument Would Dr. Seuss Play? A Daxophone of Course!
Rarely does an instrument’s form match up with it’s sound as perfectly and whimsically as the daxophone’s. Invented by Hans Reichel of Germany, the daxophone is a friction idiophone who’s vibrating mechanism is an oddly but tactically shaped wooden tongue which is attached to a block of wood. The vibrations travel from the vibrating blade to the block where a contact microphone amplifies the sound. The whole concept is similar to plucking a ruler half-way off a table.
Almost 10 years after the first daxophone-only album, Hans Reicher has release another playful and delightful album entitled Lower Lurum.
The daxophone’s sound can vary widely depending on the tongue used and the method of vibration (e.g. bowed, blowed, boinged, bent, bonked). Different shaped tongues can be used to produce different styles and effects.
Among being a musical instrument inventor, Hans is also a typeset designer. Naturally, he created a typeset of daxophone tongues to deliver his tongue plans.
Listen:
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Detailed information and instructions on how to build your own daxophone are available on Hans Reichel’s website, daxo.de.
Wow - pretty cool. Music instrument aside - those ‘tongues’ are just beautiful. Modern Art!
alternate forms exist: chopsticks, squeaking wine corks, steel re-bar sticking out of the concrete at one end
An infinite pallet exists.
Well, for me at least, that sounds way creepier than the glass armonica.
holy crap, this IS way creepier than the glass harmonica, helena
made me trip · ·
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Hey Tylor,
Thanks for referring me to your site tonight at the the Cowgirl. This instrument so far is my favorite. Excellent sound, beautifully crafted. I would love to play this. Awesome site!
-Zak
It kinda’ sounds like Munchkins humming and
farting at the same time! It’s great!
Has anyone been able to download the pdf that show how to build a daxophone? I tried both the links losted above with no success.
FINALLY the mystery is solved of the strange sound in rupert hine’s immunity album. i think it was in the song with all the cocktail glasses, psycho surrender. i no not have a working turntable, so i can’t check. it was on of rupert hine’s songs anyway….