Hello Micros/My phin project

Hi all, I'm new to microtonal music, I just started to get into the
idea of building myself some microtonal instruments to tool around
with. I started a thread on the "oddmusic" yahoo group, but it was
suggested to me that i post here as well.
the other day i watched this video on the sublime frequencies
channel here: http://www.vbs.tv/player.php?
bctid=686943905&bccl=NTMzMjU2NDEyX19NVVNJQw==

it's of the thai ghost festival. anyway, i was blown away by the
electrified instrument being played. apparently it is a phin. an
image is here as well: http://www.atlasofpluckedinstruments.com/
se_asia/phin%20lute%20thailand%20kunitachi.jpg

I took the above the image and mapped the frets in illustrator. i then
scaled it to the size of an instrument i was building (which wasn't
far off). i then printed my fret map and layed it across the
instrument, marking all the frets with a pencil. i attached zip ties
as frets and moved them into position.
the tuning sounds great, but there are certain frets i am sure are
off. with further playing it seems that the frets are spaced so that
you can play in different keys.

i did a quick and dirty recording of it, so you all can help me sort
the fretting out. here's all the notes on one string, starting with
the open string and
working up the neck: www.et-ia.com/dropbox/pinallfrets.mp3
here's another one of me jamming (albiet poorly) on the frets that
sound nicest to my ears: www.et-ia.com/dropbox/phinjam.mp3
and here's the original mp3 from sublime frequencies. notice how much
better his jamming is then mine. :) maybe some of you pitch sensitive
types can tell me what his tuning is?
www.et-ia.com/dropbox/molamjam.mp3
here's an image of my instrument: www.et-ia.com/dropbox/mephin.jpg
it only has 2 strings, as it wasn't intended for this purpose. i'm
kind of just using it as a "proof of concept' for building a cigar box
phin.
i like it though, b/c now i can try out any tuning i want. it sounds
pretty good too. i have to appologize for the tuning though, i just
tuned it to the resonance of the tin. i hope it doesn't make it
difficult to understand the intervals.
you will also notice a subtle wah sound. this was a little happy
accident in the design. it's me pushing on the tin and bending it in
slightly. i like the sound a lot.

ok, sorry for the super long post hahaha. hope some of this is of
interest to you all.

peace,
-et-

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "Ethan Tripp" <ethantripp@...>
wrote:
>
> Hi all, I'm new to microtonal music, I just started to get into the
> idea of building myself some microtonal instruments to tool around
> with. I started a thread on the "oddmusic" yahoo group, but it was
> suggested to me that i post here as well.

Welcome to the group! I have enjoyed reading your blog for a long time.
<http://ofsoundmind.wordpress.com/> I'm glad that you are doing some
experimenting with microtonal music. I like your phin and look forward
to future recordings.

Thanks Dan! I'm looking forward to getting deeper into microtonal music.

-et-

On Apr 18, 2007, at 5:23 PM, Daniel Thompson wrote:

> --- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "Ethan Tripp" <ethantripp@...>
> wrote:
> >
> > Hi all, I'm new to microtonal music, I just started to get into the
> > idea of building myself some microtonal instruments to tool around
> > with. I started a thread on the "oddmusic" yahoo group, but it was
> > suggested to me that i post here as well.
>
> Welcome to the group! I have enjoyed reading your blog for a long
> time.
> <http://ofsoundmind.wordpress.com/> I'm glad that you are doing some
> experimenting with microtonal music. I like your phin and look forward
> to future recordings.
>
>
>

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