Chiff and Fipple Forums

Has anyone here heard of them? Any experiences to share?

Nóirín Ní Riain's handbag, as I have heard them refereed to a few times, pointing to the singer's use one time use of one. The Indian harmonium, using similar bellows set up and reeds is arguably a more versatile option. My mind goes to the 1970s all of a sudden.

DaveVisi wrote:Has anyone here heard of them? Any experiences to share?

Grey Larsen makes use of one as drones for his flute playing.

kkrell wrote:

DaveVisi wrote:Has anyone here heard of them? Any experiences to share?

Grey Larsen makes use of one as drones for his flute playing.

That's all I'm really looking for. One of these days when I have extra cash...

I have a Radel shruti box that I bought last time I was in India.
It's similar to this: https://www.amazon.com/Electronic-Tanpu ... B007JU29L2
Amazon has them for $125 - in India it was about $40USD

Essentially, it's a battery, or AC mini amp with speakers, that has several modes, keys, that conform to the tune that you're playing. (More likely you'll conform to what it is putting out). As a flute player, it's an amazing 'other dimensional' device that takes your preconceived notions of tonality and puts them in another place. Ideally, when you're beginning, it will be best to be stoned while you discover the tonalities. Once you've mastered the modes of the Shruti box you'll find more practical applications for its use. It doesn't change key easily. It could be compared to a real Tambur player who knows one mode at a time.

A Shruti box is a very cool device - which will plug into another amp for a bigger sound via a headphone output.

Don't hesitate - get it!

Flexismart wrote:I have a Radel shruti box that I bought last time I was in India.
It's similar to this: https://www.amazon.com/Electronic-Tanpu ... B007JU29L2
Amazon has them for $125 - in India it was about $40USD

Essentially, it's a battery, or AC mini amp with speakers, that has several modes, keys, that conform to the tune that you're playing. (More likely you'll conform to what it is putting out). As a flute player, it's an amazing 'other dimensional' device that takes your preconceived notions of tonality and puts them in another place. Ideally, when you're beginning, it will be best to be stoned while you discover the tonalities. Once you've mastered the modes of the Shruti box you'll find more practical applications for its use. It doesn't change key easily. It could be compared to a real Tambur player who knows one mode at a time.

A Shruti box is a very cool device - which will plug into another amp for a bigger sound via a headphone output.

Don't hesitate - get it!

I've seen that. But as part of a Renaissance recreation group, electronics is frowned upon. Plus I just like the organic look of a real wood instrument.

Hmm very interesting!

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There's a lady who plays one at our local Irish session. She uses it to accompany herself on slow ballads and dirges and such. It's quite a nice effect actually.

Here is Julie Fowlis playing one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOu0qORSDK0

And a while ago I went to a house concert where the accompaniment guitarist used his foot to push with the Shruti box on the floor in front. Very interesting.

I was looking for a drone instrument to play whilst playing fiddle. I ended up buying a shruti box just before Christmas. I bought one from [url=https://www.shrutibox.co.uk/]these people[url]. Stefan was easy to deal with and the box itself is a real pleasure, and really good quality. I bought a bass G box with a pedal, so I can play it with my foot whilst playing fiddle. It's great! I'm planning to use it on the next CD ...

ytliek wrote:Here is Julie Fowlis playing one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOu0qORSDK0

In this case it's actually a harmonium - at the end of the vid you see its piano-like keys.

Nanohedron wrote:

ytliek wrote:Here is Julie Fowlis playing one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOu0qORSDK0

In this case it's actually a harmonium - at the end of the vid you see its piano-like keys.

Absolutely. It's a very different instrument from a shruti box. I've played that sort of harmonium (not the same make), and they're lovely to play, but it is, to my ear at least, and certainly from the point of view of the player, a radically different instrument.

ytliek wrote:And a while ago I went to a house concert where the accompaniment guitarist used his foot to push with the Shruti box on the floor in front. Very interesting.

Mine uses a floor pedal, as I mentioned above. I mean, it's optional - you don't have to use it, but it makes it possible to play it while playing another instrument - in my case, fiddle - at the same time.

Nanohedron wrote:

ytliek wrote:Here is Julie Fowlis playing one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOu0qORSDK0

In this case it's actually a harmonium - at the end of the vid you see its piano-like keys.

Agreed, it is a harmonium in that video.

Here is another Julie Fowlis video and I think this instrument is the Shruti box center stage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5amF_WLeY1k

I saw Julie Fowlis last year 2018 in concert in Vermont and she said the instrument was a Shruti box. All of these instruments are overload for my mind, but, love the music.

ytliek wrote:Here is another Julie Fowlis video and I think this instrument is the Shruti box center stage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5amF_WLeY1k

Where? I've looked and looked and I can't see one in that video.

ytliek wrote: Here is another Julie Fowlis video and I think this instrument is the Shruti box center stage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5amF_WLeY1k

Isn't it the bass viol doing the droning?