WEIGHTED STRINGS: Four Instruments

In these four instruments, a small weight is placed on each string. The weights alter the overtone relationships in the string tone to create unusual tone qualities. You can place the weights randomly for variably inharmonic tone qualities, or you can carefully position them to bring out more controlled overtone relationships. Among the instruments shown here are both random and deliberate placements.

The instrument heard in the sound clip is the one appearing in the center of the photograph, the Weighted Lyre. It is double tracked, and joined by a rumba box providing the bass.