Odd Time Signatures

I'm currently arranging a cover of the song "Wind" by Japanese singer/songwriter Akeboshi. This song is fairly popular in Japan, and it even has a bit of an audience here at home, serving as the first ending theme to the popular anime Naruto. It's reflecting narrative themes and somber atmosphere place it right at home with other 'soul-searching' type songs, but there's something different about Wind.

More specifically, Wind is written in an odd time-signature. 5/8 time, to be exact. Odd time-signatures aren't as prevalent in popular music as even time-signatures, maybe because their 'offbeat' nature may be difficult for some musicians to work with rhythmically. Some beginning artists (yours truly included) feel more comfortable writing in 4/4 or 3/4 time (or 'common time'), and writing in an odd time-signature can feel daunting if you've developed a natural habit of writing 'evenly'. (is that word applicable?)

However, there are some really cool songs that incorporate odd time. Examples include:

The original Mission Impossible theme. (5/4)

 

Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel. (7/4)



5/4 by the Gorillaz. (5/4 guitar, 4/4 everything else)



They also make the rounds in plenty of Jazz and Blues songs, as well as a fair repertoire in Classical music.

So the next time you sit down to pen a classic song, consider moving that beat forward one more note. You never know, it may be the best thing you ever did!

Happy Independence Day!

It's July the 4th today, the day when we declared our emancipation from England all those years ago. Soon afterward we began laying the foundation of a nation that would go on to become one of the most powerful in the world. We've made our fair share of mistakes (as any hippy or frustrated foreigner may tell you), but everyday I meet people who remind me that we are a country comprised as much of well-minded people as it is those obnoxious hate-mongers the media keeps idolizing. I'm proud of where I come from, and I hope you are as well. After all, there are talented examples of patriotism everywhere.

Like these people



or this guy



or this lovely lady



even this talented non-American



America! FUCK yeah!



And of course the best act of patriotism ever.



So happy 4th, everyone. I'm proud to call myself a patriot and hope you do as well. And as we end off this post, I ask that you all stand, put your right hand over your heart, and follow along to our national anthem.



oops.

The Dark Knight Rises is gonna Kick Ass

I, like many of my friends, am very excited to see The Dark Knight Rises on the 20 of this month. Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy is coming to an end with this film, and it looks like it's going to be an amazing send-off. Bane is going to fuck Bruce's shit all kinds of up, a far cry better than the events of his last movie.

Pictured: Bane

What really has me overly-excited for TDKR, however,  is that Bane seems to be taking a back-seat to all the chaos that will be going on. He's the main villain, definitely, but the trailer has it looking like he's building to something grander. As though he's simply a conductor to this pre-orchestrated apocalypse, showing up at the beginning to tell Batman his life is decidedly over, then returning to his lair to watch his masterpiece unfold while wearing a smoking jacket and stroking a white cat.

Pictured: Bane?

But we know that won't be the case. Not entirely, anyway. For those of us who know Batman's history with Bane, there's only one reason we're going to see this movie. We're going because we want to see Bane break Batman's spine. It's been integral to their relationship, so it's assumed it will occur. And high-five to Nolan for taking Bane, a villain who may seem a little ridiculous in the gritty realism of BatBale's world, and turning him into an intimidating badass. That mask is incredibly boss, and talk about a terrifying voice. This is going to be every bit as scary and fantastic as Heath Ledger's performance in The Dark Knight. Psyched to see Selina Kyle and the Batwing finally showing up as well.

So get ready, guys. Because the end's coming to Gotham, and it will be unforgettable.

Instrument of the Month: Handpan

Today marks the first day of July, and beginning this week I am starting an “Instrument of the Month” blog post. The first week of every month I will select a musical instrument at random, and give an insight into its history, creation and how it has been used in music, both in current times and historically.

So let’s get started. The instrument of the month for July 2012 is:

The Handpan

The Handpan is relatively new to the music scene, but the impact it has made is palpable. Developed as the 'Hang' by PANart in the early 2000’s, the handpan has quickly become heavily sought after for its ethereal sound. Made originally of a ‘nitrided steel sheet’ formed into a dome, the handpan has several small dents hammered into the surface to form the different notes of the scale. Then it is melded with another dome that has a large sound hole carved into the bottom. The result?

Beautiful bell-like tones.

At the time PANart was the only one developing the instrument, and not in enough quantities to meet demand for it. Eventually all orders were placed on a very long waiting list (up to five years), and those seeking to finally purchase their handpan would have to fly to Bern in Switzerland to retrieve it.

Soon after a new company surfaced. Pantheon Steel introduced its own handpan, the 'Halo' in 2007. This is also when the term 'Handpan' was first used to describe the instrument. They were soon flooded with requests and orders. People couldn't get enough of these instruments!

As more and more people begin to develop their own methods of creating handpans, the market is steadily growing. Obtaining one is still no easy task, however. PANart chooses their customers via handwritten letters, Pantheon Steel has mailing list lotteries to select their winners, and everyone else typically has a long waiting list. You're best bet is usually to wait on an order list with a newer company or try to win one on eBay.

Or, you know, build one.


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It turns out, there are tons of instructionals for building your own. that forum, HandPan.org, is probably the best resource on the internet for information on developments, purchasing, and making your own handpan. Now it's insanely noisy and requires dedication, but the results are worth the effort.

So, all this is well and good, but what kind of music can you play on a hand pan?









pretty damn good music.

For more information on the handpan and its wonders, I recommend the HandPan forums. You can also check here.

Also guess what? Spacedrum is selling them directly from their maker's website.

And for a similar instrument, check out the Steel Tongue Drum.

Well that's it for this post. See you guys in August for 'Instrument of the Month'!

Okinawan Sanshin

One of the instruments I've been keeping my eye on is the okinawan Sanshin. It's an interesting instrument with a great history. It traveled to Okinawa from mainland China where it started out as the Sanxian, and then eventually made it's way to mainland Japan. You may be familiar with it's younger cousin, the Shamisen.

The sanshin is an instrument with a distinct sound and playing style, and it's really cool to see companies like Asoviva start to encourage more and more contemporary playing styles. Some good examples of popular songs on the sanshin are here and here.

I think it's really great to live in a time when so much knowledge is available so quickly and easily. This is no more apparent than in the resurgence of certain instruments, as well as how many people are teaching themselves music without the use of a tutor. There's so many cool sounds out there to experiment with and thanks to the internet, those sounds are usually just a click away. Still, there are some sounds that would be hard to find a proper place for, but that's all part of the fun of music.

In any case, the sanshin is one of those instruments that are slowly making their way into pop culture, and it's exciting to see what direction it will go in.

If you are interested in learning more or purchasing a sanshin, click here, here, or here. (the last one may require Google translate)

Another great resource for sanshin information and playing techniques in the Simple Sanshin.

For a more rustic version of the sanshin, check out the Kankara Sanshin

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Kamoa's new beauty

I'm very excited for the Evolve steel string semi-hollow from Kamoa that is just now beginning to be sold in the ukulele community. I know there are plenty of players who don't see the point in steel strung, electric ukuleles, seeing it as "ape-ing" electric guitars and therefor redundant, but I think having the option available is exciting. I greatly look forward to seeing these beautiful ukes put to use in creative ways, and the number of people that are planning to buy them means we should have plenty of excellent examples.

The steel string electric ukulele is not necessarily a brand new idea. Risa has been doing it for a while, and Eleuke is well known for their solid-body electrics. I'm a little sad to hear that the long-anticipated steel-string Eleuke ukuele has been recalled at the last minute, but these things do happen.

The coolest steel-string ukulele in my opinion? This one.

So which steel-string do you like best? Let me know below.

I'm Back

Wow. Two years it's been. The heat in Dallas is terrible and it caused me to remember I used to keep a blog that I stopped posting to. Maybe it's time to restart this little look into my life and interests. A bit has happened since last we met. My brother got married. I went to my first open mic night, and got offered my first gig. Sadly it did not go through. I've also been working on an album, hopefully to have out later this year. I hope to update this blog better than I did last time, so stick around.

 See ya soon.

P.S. Better leave some music. It's only proper. Here's one of my few recorded originals.