On the old board there was a thread about using a shruti box to create drones. Does anyone do this? Is it possible to play the shruti box with a foot in order to leave the hands free to play concertina?

All information/advice appreciated.

Aldon

Have you considered taking up one of the duet systems? Melody in right hand and drones in the left becomes simple.

I DO want to get a Hayden Duet someday, but who knows when that'll happen.

The shruti box I saw in a music catalogue was only US$140, so I'm keenly interested in knowing more about them. From what I understand they are able to play a continuous drone with no stop in sound when the bellows change direction.

So does anyone out there know anything about the shruti box? I'd love some enlightenment!

Use your feet to play a Belgian foot bass. Play the shruti box with your elbow like pipe bellows.

-Eric Root

Some years ago I saw a concertina player droning with a shruti box at the same time he was playing concertina. Very effective. He had the shruti box fixed to a piece of plywood so that when he rested his heel on the plywood it stabilized the box and enabled him to use that same foot to manipulate the instrument in a sort of sideways motion. A shruti box is sprung in the open position, so he was able to force the bellows closed by pivoting his foot, then allowing it to spring back open before repeating. This instrument has two bellows, so that the "pumping" bellows fills the second bellows and air chamber - and the reeds utilize the (pretty much) constant airflow from the secondary chamber to maintain a non-stopping drone. In this way, it has an advantage over other bellows driven instruments that necessarily have to interrupt the drone to change directions. The shruti box can play a single note or a chord, depending on what notes are available.

I got a shruti box myself, but never used it in this way very much. It was difficult to find one of very high quality - though they must surely exist. I do like the concept, however. I got excited for a while, and actually researched harmoniums and pump organs and designed a foot driven droning instrument that I would love to have - but I have not gotten around to building one as yet. Perhaps in retirement.

While doing this research, I found out about the Belgian Foot Bass (through concertina Connection) and purchased one. It is a real hoot. I have performed with it on stage a number of times and it is quite a crowd pleaser. It plays only as you pump downward, then springs back quickly. Basic Om-pahs and bass runs are simple. I don't play concertina at the same time, but I can strum guitar or mandolin, or shake the bones - which is quite a sight. It doesn't drone very well because of the bellows breaks, and also chords don't sound very good.

I also recall seeing a fellow play harmonica attached to one of those holding devices that hung around his neck, while using both hands to squeeze a shruti box. His box was one of the thinner ones I've seen, and pulsed heavily as he squeezed. He used this pulsation of the droning chord to set a rhythm for the harmonica. It was very cool.

I'm sure that there are lots of other places but I know that www.keshav-music.com has shruti boxes. Click on harmoniums and you'll find them. Also Clarion music in San Francisco has them. Howie

Thanks Randy! That's exactly what I was looking for. So I guess I'd have to alter the shruti box a bit in order to play it with my foot, but it does seem possible. I think I'm going to get one and monkey around with it.

Thanks Howie! I live in San Jose, so San Fran isn't too far away. I've never heard of Clarion Music before, but will check them out. The shruti that I saw was in the Lark in the Morning catalogue......

Hey Eric, that's a cool idea, like playing Uillean pipes, but not.

Thanks for the replies!
Aldon

Hi Aldon,
Clarion Music is located in Chinatown in SF. They have a great selection of world instruments. I know that they used to carry harmoniums and while I'm not sure if they have shruti boxes, I would definately check with them as their prices are always better than Lark in the Morning. http://www.clarionmusic.com/ They are a great source for getting a sheng (Chinese free reed mouth organ). As to the other website that I mentioned, while they are located in NYC I'm sure that they would ship anywhere in the country. I was in the shop and the instruments really looke great. Have fun dronning on. Howie

Thanks Howie, I'll check those places out. This is going to be fun.....