Tired of the same old sounds on your synth, again? Just can't seem to find that special sound that will just "make" your new song idea? Here are a few more weird items you probably have sitting around the place to create a new sound for the New Year you might not have tried, just yet.
WEIRD WOODWINDS
Have you ever tried to play a brass instrument? You basically stick your lips into a small opening and buzz them together. Buzz them tighter or looser and you get different tones. Try doing this into different lengths and thicknesses of paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls and other cardboard tubes. You might find that you will need to put some sort of plastic over the ends to keep them from getting all soft from spit, or just keep a collection of them around and discard soggy ones when you can't get much out of them anymore. You can always just hum into these like a kazoo, too. Some people actually put a small hole with wax paper stuck onto it like you would have on a kazoo to get a similar tone. Having several party blowers around with different tones might also be fun, or just put one of any of these relatively on key into your synth, then just create the other notes you need with your computer.
CYMBALS ARE EVERYWHERE
It's amazing how many things sound really good when struck lightly with a drumstick or other thin rod of some sort. Metal lamp hoods are really nice, especially those upturned torch-like floor lamps and the covers of track lights. Your desk lamp cover might even have a nice sound. Most little kids know about pot and pan lids, but what about hubcaps? What about different sizes of tin cans and/or their lids hung on strings or on a cymbal-sort of stand? If used carefully, the glass lids of casserole dishes sound really nice, as do the dishes themselves. Even plates can have a nice tone-try letting one spin just a little on a tabletop sometime and you will hear what I mean. Have fun and sample as many as you can. Sure, on stage, it might be fun to use the real thing, but make sure the more fragile types have good cushioning under them in case of falls, or keep backups around-they might be incredibly much cheaper than the standard cymbal, but replacing older ones may be a nightmare, especially the next time you want to make your signature covered dish for Thanksgiving.
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