"Simon Customer" wrote in message link.net...
"agent86" wrote in message
. ..
Simon Customer wrote:

I wasn't sure how to ask the question, but I'd like to know which of the
wind instruments can change pitch on a constant basis? To explain a
little better, a trumpet tone can be maintained and the pitch changed by
sliding.
Thus, one goes throughout the different notes without pressing keys.

Not sure what you're asking exactly. The slides on a trumpet are for
tuning. You *can* use them to bend a note while playing, but the range is
pretty limited. I wouldn't exactly call it "going throughout the
different
notes" because of the limited range.

Ok, I want to create an accelerating engine. Currently, I have an electric
guitar feeding a Moog ring modulator. By sliding my fingernail slowly up
and down the strings and with modulation, it sounds very similar to a boat
motor. However, the electric guitar isn't quite what I'm looking for and I
wanted to try whatever wind instruments could change pitch through
lengthening or shortening. If I have to change keys to change pitch, then
the constant acceleration I want is spoiled. A clarinet is the closest
sound to what I want, but I didn't know if it could change over a fairly
large range (whatever I use has to be able to double in frequency at the
highest pitch). I plan on feeding the real time output into the modulator.
Of course, the alternative is to record a constant tone and then use
software pitch changers to speed up/ slow down, but this is far from the
same effect as actually changing instrument pitch in real time.



Well, how about the clarinet- can pitch be changed without changing
keys?

In the hands of the right player, you betcha. Check out the intro of
Gershwin's Rapsody in blue, & listen for the clarinet that sounds like a
siren.

Are any samples of this available on the web? I wouldn't mind taking a
listen.



Sorry, I'm a bit new with most musical instruments but I'm looking for
winds that can change pitch constantly for a special purpose.

Trombone would be the most obvious, & maybe slide whistle. Or for a
wah-wah effect on trumpet, there's always the old toilet plunger for a
mute
trick.

A trombone, I'm going to listen to that now and see if that is close but I
really think the clarinet tone is what I'm looking for.

Simon

Actually you can get a similar effect with a trumpet as well. If you
half valve, i.e. depress the valves about halfway you open up all the
slides, at which time you can glissando over a wide range. One example
of this is found at the end of Leroy Anderson's 'Sleigh Ride' where
the trumpet simulates the sound of a horse whinny.

For that continuous pitch shift I'd probably look for a Polymoog or
other analog synthesizer with a ribbon controller. That's probably the
most seamless gliss you can get over a wide tonal range. A trombone is
only going to give you seven semitones before you run out of slide.

I've seen working polymoogs go for reasonable prices on eBay from time
to time.

Ragnar