Just Because It's Fun

[Corylea]

Since you all have been kind about sharing the interesting stuff you find on the web, I thought I'd reciprocate.

To really understand what's happening here, you have to know that this guy is making all of those sounds with his mouth. The end, where he mixes them all together, is really impressive.


http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x12565_beatbox-fame-game


(Note to VM: My husband sent me this link; I didn't discover it on my own. )

 

[Selena_Kitt]

That's impressive!

Blake from American Idol would be jealous. Awesome!

 

[Corylea]

That's impressive!

Blake from American Idol would be jealous. Awesome!

I've never seen American Idol (I haven't watched TV since 1986, except for Buffy, and I saw her on DVD) -- does this Blake person make noises with his mouth?

 

[fieryjen]

Thanks for posting that. Neat clip.

I always though this sort of thing was fascinating ( probably because I can't even fathom how they do it).

 

[alyxen]

Definitely impressive stuff!

 

[CWatson]

It's actually not that hard. I'm teaching myself to do it. ...Well, okay, I can't do the really crazy electronic stuff (nor anything as professional, polished and creative as this guy, who BTW goes by Beardyman), but I can do the basics.

There are only three sounds at the root of Vocal Percussion: the kick drum (the big round one at the bottom), the snare drum, and the double cymbals which you work via pedal. Not coincidentally, these are also the main drums you hear in rock music. The kick drum is a low "BM", as in "bum" but with absolutely no vowel. The snare is an explosive "PF" or perhaps "Psh". And the tap cymbals are "T", or maybe "Ts".

Seriously, just try it. Here's the pattern used by almost every rock song ever written:

Bm T Psh T Bm T Psh T (repeat ad nauseum)

See, that wasn't that hard. Of course, sounding really good and convincing is harder. The snare is the hardest for me, but your mileage may vary. And this is obviously nowhere near what Beardyman does, which is not so much beatboxing as it is multimedia insanity. But still, it's a start.

Other resources:
http://www.humanbeatbox.com/lessons
http://www.mouthdrumming.com/

 

[Selena_Kitt]

I've never seen American Idol (I haven't watched TV since 1986, except for Buffy, and I saw her on DVD) -- does this Blake person make noises with his mouth?

He's a beatboxer, too...