[CAUT] Bowed Piano Strings

[James Ellis]

Excuse me, folks, but this thing of bowing piano strings, or putting nuts
and bolts on the strings, or wedging screws between the strings to mess up
the sound of an otherwise fine piano puts me in a bad mood.  If strange
sounds are what these people want, here is a simple solution that will give
them every thing they could hope for, and it will spare the piano to boot.  

Get a tin can with one end cut out.  For safety reasons, put the open end
of the can on the floor, and punch a small hole in the middle of the bottom
end with an ice pick, leaving the jagged part of the punched hole facing
inward.  Tie a knot in the end of a two-foot length of heavy string -
tight-woven cotton is best, but nylon will do of you can't find cotton.
Poke the other end of the string through the hole, outside to inside, and
tie another knot so the string can't come back out.  Pull the string
outward so that the knot is secure against the inside of the hole.  Rub a
generous supply of violin resin on the string, and you are ready to go.  

Put a old leather work glove on your right hand.  Pick the can up with your
left hand, and hold the open end in the direction you want to project the
sound.  Grip the string up near the can with your glove-covered hand, and
pull it over the string. The sound you will get will make your hair stand
on end.  The tighter you grip, the more tension on the string, and the
louder and more inharmonic the tone will be.  Just reverse the process if
you are left-handed.  As a child, I used to have fun making these things
for use on Halloween night.

Jim Ellis