Let's do something random.
Because of course I have frog dice!
Came down to another Friday night and I didn't have anything started. Wasn't sure what to do, but hit upon a couple ideas - one was going back to my cheap theremin. I got a clue as to why I haven't been able to pipe it into Logic yet, so I can record now (phase cancellation problems). The other was something I had thought of before, but never tried: making a track with random instrumentation that I get by rolling dice. Played with the theremin, but dice is the winner. (We’ll revisit the theremin later.)
I saw the idea a while ago from a creator that was playing off the whole "Roll For $X" thing, and was doing "Roll for Song". His thing was to roll for instruments for each section - rhythm, percussion, lead, etc, and then roll for a song to do a short cover of. Fun, but not chaotic enough. Nevermind that the whole "cover" part is a no go for WB.
So, on Friday night I listed out instruments - figured a list of 36 would be good for now, so I could roll 2D6 and figure a tens roll and a ones roll (11-16, 21-26, etc). Had to do a bit of figuring on how to list things, lest I end up with a list that is 75% flute/wind instrument. I also worked on how I listed things to give more entries to guitar/bass, and less to flutes and whistles (guitars and basses are listed separately, while Recorders are given "any" (soprano, tenor, etc).
Anyway, my instruments for this week:
22. Soprano ukulele
45. Electric mandolin
21. Synth bass
36. Silver flute
64. Hulusi (Chinese free-reed instrument)
61. Hand percussion
That is a VERY favorable list for a first random try!
Figured out a quick pattern on the uke, and then tried the hulusi. It's a diatonic instrument, and I didn't remember what key it was in. Played a little pattern - holy cow, does that fit with the uke?!? Yup! Go with it. The mail melodic theme that sounds a bit like a clarinet is that initial idea. Finished the whole thing in three hours or so.
If you're curious, › here's the list, and more thoughts.‹ here's the list, and more thoughts.
11 Melodica
12 Acoustic guitar (six)
13 Acoustic guitar (12)
14 Electric guitar
15 Upright bass
16 Electric bass
21 Synth bass
22 Ukulele (soprano)
23 Ukulele (baritone)
24 Piano
25 Electric piano
26 Organ
31 Acoustic bass
32 Harmonica
33 NA Flute
34 Open hole flute
35 Vocals
36 Silver flute
41 Pennywhistle
42 Recorder (any)
43 Trumpet
44 Mandolin (acoustic)
45 Mandolin (electric)
46 Balalaika
51 Banjo (5)
52 Banjo (tenor)
53 Synth (any)
54 Orchestra
55 Drums (acoustic)
56 Drums (synth)
61 Hand percussion
62 Handpan
63 Theremin
64 Hulusi
65 Dulcimer
66 Cigar Box Guitar
I have another 20 or so that I want to add to this list. I'd like to break out synthesizers into separate ones, it's a way to break me out of my usual and push me towards instruments I don't use as much. It's also absolutely criminal that electric kazoo and nose flute isn't on the list. I figure "wild card", "kitchen samples" and "field recording" would also be fun. I shall return to this list!
On to week 24! I continue to be amazed at what everyone is posting, y'all are crushing it :)
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