SSP Strings
Here is another in a series of semi-self-playing instruments that I have made. This one has two separate components. One involves strings which are activated by hanging weights. When pulled to the side and released, the weights swing in a half-arc and bounce off the strings, continuing with repeated string-hits until the bouncing dies down. The other component has four sets of five or six strings with metal rods woven over-under-over-under them, sticking out horizontally to the side. When the end of a rod is lifted and released, it starts bouncing on the outermost strings. This can continue, sounding the strings ever more quietly, for a remarkably long time. The resulting pitches depend on the positioning of the rods. As heard in the audio clip here, the player can play other available strings while the self-sustaining components carry on.