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OT: Synthesizing a human finger
As a hand percussion (amonst other things), I've thought a lot about this
one and have come to this understanding:
A finger is the combination of a smooth, soft and pliable covering (skin)
with dense, yet lightweight structure underneath it (the bone).
When I describe the three basic conga strokes to beginning students I have
them imagine that there hands are like various mallets:
1) the tips of their fingers (which produce slapping technique on conga)
are like a stick with a thin leather covering,
2) The first pad (or pad nearest to the hand) where we get our open tones
is like a regular felt covered mallet ( a softer covering but more mass
3) The palm of the hand (where bass tones are produced on a conga) is like
a large gong mallet. The covering is extraordinariy soft but there is
great weight and density behind it.
Consequently, when you try to design a 'human finger-eque' implement, you
have to think not only of the texture of the surface, but also of the
and density underneath it.
I believe that Regal Tip markets a leather covered stick that is there best
attempt at simulating a hand (this, so that trapset drummers can
approximate the sound of a hand hitting a conga with stick technique).
might try this out.
Also, super balls are kind of a perfect combination between a human finger
and a violin bow and can be used to 'bow' gongs, cymbals,
drum heads, the wooden keys on tongue drums, and anything where.
Failing this, one can always turn to cadavers ;-)
Good luck and let me know if you stumble on anything really cool and
Yours, Rick Walker (loop.pool)