Yes, that does seem to be the case, which would reduce its usefulness for my purposes. However, I'm still thinking of getting one, now that I've investigated the subject further. My preference would definitely be to get one where I could change the note, and the reason for that is to be able to play drones that go well in sets where the last tune is, to give just one example, in A major/A minor. A D drone just doesn't go. Another set has the last tune in G minor, and that one sounds a lot better with a G drone than a D drone. So, the shruti box would still be useful, because I can set the notes as appropriate for the last tune in the set, and not worry so much about earlier tunes in the set. Another possibility that has occurred to me is to buy two shruti boxes, and set them differently so that I can change between tunes in a set.BlueSalmon wrote:I thought a shruti couldn't be "played" like a harmonium, i.e. you have to adjust the key by moving a small lever, rather than pressing keys?
A harmonium might be easier to operate, if you could somehow enlarge the key surface. An idea for how to do this could come from looking at african marimbas, which have a large tab for a relatively small key.
On the other hand, a similar idea might be used to enlarge the levers on the shruti. I don't know which would be easier, but my impression of shruti was much less easy to change notes. (swivelling plates, not keys)
I've had a good look at this. The foot bass looks excellent. It would be great to have, and I could certainly use it. I think I'm going to resist though, as it looks to me as if its primary purpose is to play a bass line, and it wouldn't really produce a steady drone, because it doesn't have the kind of 'air reservoir' to produce a steady drone that the shruti box does. Mind you, I like the idea of being able to play a bass line!Mr.Gumby wrote:My first thought was either a shruti box or a Foot Bass.
Yes, I am considering getting a set of Taurus Moog bass pedals. That would work.Mr.Gumby wrote:There are other electronic options as well, I have, for example, seen Andy Irvine use pedals that produce a hum to fill out his sound when playing solo.
Overall, though, the more I look at it, despite the limitations of not being able, easily, to change the drone note, I am leaning towards the shruti box. This has quite a lot to do with the look of it, and how I think it would look in performance.
I don't think bringing a third person into that would quite work.
