The discussion of instruments keyed an epiphany for me. With certain exceptions, you all
have been talking about how instruments as we know them would be effectively
impossible for a fur with a four-digit hand. In all actuality, a part of our music system
would be extremely easy for them to understand. Being four-fingered rather than five-,
they already think in eights; or octaves, if you will. Our music system would almost
literally be a language to them.
Now, true, with limited exceptions, most of our instruments would be effectively unusable.
Only the ones with a piano-style keyboard, three finger-keys (like some trumpets (with
mouthpiece modification)) or pure plucked strings like a lute or harp would be easily used
by a fur. Guitars might be a little difficult, but banjos and ukeleles would probably be
pretty simple. Even violins and other string instruments may be playable without
modification. Most woodwinds, on the other hand, would have to have a completely
different valving system designed, but the body of the instrument could probably go
unchanged.
And personally, I don't see where double-reed or single-reed woodwinds would be all that
different from what we have as far as the reeds themselves are concerned. The reed isn't
vibrated by the lip, after all. On the other hand, a brass instrument is based mostly on the
lip, and with the shape and thinness of the fur's lip, playing one of these would be
significantly more difficult. Very likely the brasses would be played similar to a wood or
plastic recorder, where you simply provide the air and let a dry reed (the splitter) create
the vibration. This would make the instrument sound something more like the brass
section of a pipe organ rather than a trumpet or bugle as we know it. In fact, it wouldn't be
all that hard to modify an Earthly trumpet or whatever to a fur's mouth even now. It's even
possible that someone could create a 'new' sound right now through such a mod.
(Consider this a challenge. I'd like to see someone do this and hear the results.)
--- In SkunkworksAMA_at_yahoogroups.com, "Rhudi" <rhudi@...> wrote:
>
> I have always wondered about musical instruments for felines.
>
> Obviously, I think a feline with a pawful of sharp claws could be an
> excellent banjo picker.
>
> Typing, as well as playing a piano would be as much of a pain as it is for
> human females who love to indulge in long nails.
>
> However, I don't think a cat could play a flute, but could play a recorder
> or penny whistle. Maybe a clarinet or saxophone, since they have one lower
> reed. But, no double reed instruments.
>
> A trumpet would be out. A harmonica could work. Won't see a cat playing in
> a jug band, tho.
>
> Rhudi
>
Received on Fri Oct 03 2008 - 06:35:21 CDT