My First Attempt at Making a 12-string Monochord

I've always wanted a monochord so I decided to make one. Instead of zither pins, I used machine tuners. The only thing I had to buy for this project was the guitar strings. I used wood scraps I had on hand for the rest of it.
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#diyinstrument #monochord #homemadeinstruments

[@davidwittie4177]

Coincidentally, I've been watching monochord videos this week. And last night I had an idea for a single string, two course diddley bow (the single string wraps through an eyelet and traverses the neck twice). I appreciate your enthusiasm. And great timing!

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks for checking it out. I like that idea.

[@BarryGrueter]

Love it 💛🙏

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks for watching the video

[@ViviSectia]

Shop ASMR is not something I expecting from this channel.

[@musicalmiscellany]

I need to figure out how to use it with other instruments but it could definitely fulfill that ASMR vibe. Thanks for checking it out.

[@saolairde396]

Well done!

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks for checking it out.

[@toni2606]

Wow! This is my all time favorite of your numerous self styled instruments! Well done! The rest of the world is envious of your talents and skill, I have to say. I love monochords! I hope to see more of it in action on your channel. 🤩🎶👍

[@musicalmiscellany]

I appreciate that. I've got so many projects in queue right now but I'll definitely plan to do more experiments in the coming weeks.

[@Ififitzisitz]

My god you make woodworking look easy

[@musicalmiscellany]

That's good to hear because I'm a pretty novice workworker actually. Thanks for checking it out.

[@CircuitsAndStrings]

Super cool project!

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks for checking it out.

[@id.unknown1283]

Do you have future plans on usages for this beautiful, strange, and made for ambient droning instrument?

[@musicalmiscellany]

I definitely want to try using it with a steel tongue drum. I think it might work well with a native flute as well. However, I need to make sure they're all in the same key.

[@MariaCalfaDePaul]

Kale this was so so amazing. You really make building stuff look so easy. I know it’s not. And I love seeing all the different pieces of equipment you use. So many I saw my late father use. Clamps are so important. Also I ever saw that cooo orange one that helped make the box that is one amazing tool It sounded so cool. I can’t wait until it meets your modular !!!!!! Fantastic video ❤

[@musicalmiscellany]

I'm glad you liked it. I'm hoping it inspires other people to do something similar. Those little corner jigs are cool but you are correct... clamps are so necessary. Building things like this really isn't that hard, it just takes a lot of patience. Sometimes the hardest part is waiting for the glue to dry. Thanks for checking it out.

[@MariaCalfaDePaul]

@@musicalmiscellany you are to Humble. !

[@grahamriceukulele]

I might try one tuned in E (half the tunes in the band I am in tunes end up in E)

[@musicalmiscellany]

BTW, I had no idea what key it was going to be in. I just used a random scale length and string size. Based on that, you could use a heavier string or longer scale and probably hit E pretty easily.

[@RevvyTone]

Pretty cool concept. Have you messed around with finger pics and maybe a big slide yet? Love how it is both a string instrument and a percussion device.

[@musicalmiscellany]

Great idea. I big ol' tonebar might be sweet on this thing. I was going to experiment with putting some 'bridges on a couple of the strings so you could make multiple tones on one string. There are a lot of possibilities.

[@garydesrosiers5692]

Very nice,can it be tuned different too?

[@musicalmiscellany]

I actually had no idea what to do with the tuning. I just guessed at a string gauge and scale. It turned out to be a pretty comfortable tension for C# (no rattle but not too tight). You could probably tune it up to a D or maybe even an E. It might be interesting to mess with different scale lengths and string sizes to figure out what works best. Some heavier strings might let is make a nice B or A. I also like the idea of having 1 or 2 strings tuned an octave higher.

[@markfdesimone]

I'm sure you could make some simple movable bridges and put them under the strings at different spots to change their pitches. If you put them close to the middle, you'd have two notes per string, and I think if you put them at places where there's a natural harmonic, then there'll be sympathetic vibrations that can cross back and forth across the middle bridges. Edit: natural harmonics, as in dividing the string in half, or putting the bridge 1/3 or 1/4 or 1/5 of the length of the string, etc.

[@musicalmiscellany]

@@markfdesimone Yes. That is a common technique on monochords. You can easily divide each string into 2 strings for more notes. I'll have to experiment with that.

[@stevesstrings5243]

Interesting! Although, monochord means "one string", so technically this is a "dodecachord", LOL! Great project!

[@musicalmiscellany]

Oh jeez. If that's the case, what would you call one of these? 😆 www.sacredrites.com/product-page/30-monochord

[@stevesstrings5243]

@@musicalmiscellany Let's see, 16 strings, that would make it a decaexichord! LOL!

[@musicalmiscellany]

@@stevesstrings5243 That flows off the tongue well (sarcasm). "I play decaexichord in a band" said no one ever. 😝

[@stevesstrings5243]

@@musicalmiscellany LOL!!!

[@bearshield7138]

far freaking out What do you have planed for you mono cord? Why two outputs?

[@musicalmiscellany]

I have a few ideas but I've also got several other projects in queue so who knows when I'll get around to it. I did the two outputs so I could plug it into a stereo reverb or chorus and get an original stereo signal. If I'm using it with an amp, I'd just use one of them but the other is there if you need it.

[@bearshield7138]

@@musicalmiscellany Cool cool I am looking forward to seeing what you are up too... It would not surprise me to find out something like a marine trumpet is on your list

[@MY_PLAYGROUND777]

If you don't use the jacks , what will happen?

[@musicalmiscellany]

If you don't' install the piezo pickups and jacks, you won't be able to amplify the monochord. Its acoustic volume is not particularly loud so that's why I added them. Thanks for checking out the video.

[@MY_PLAYGROUND777]

If you don't use it. Can play, right?

[@musicalmiscellany]

@@MY_PLAYGROUND777 Yes.

[@pixelpoet]

The point is?

[@musicalmiscellany]

point /point/ noun 1. the tapered, sharp end of a tool, weapon, or other object 2. a dot or other punctuation mark, in particular a period 3. in geometry, an abstract idealization of an exact position, without size, in physical space, or its generalization

[@pixelpoet]

@@musicalmiscellany Nah still don’t get it, but thanks for trying to explain 😊