- Joined
- Nov 5, 2009
- Messages
- 538
Hello everyone,
Yes, you may all recognize this instrument from Crocodile Dundee...
Although used widely by Australian Aboriginals, the Bullroarer or turndun, or rhombus, is probably the most widely used instrument all over the world. It has over 60 names. It existed in Africa (Nigeria, Mali, etc.), British Isles (Scotland, it was called 'thunder spell'), North America (Navajo, Apache, Zuni, etc.), and was used for a variety of purposes.
It was predominately used as a 'phone' to communicate over large distances. It was sacred in ceremonial gatherings, it was a musical instrument, hunting tool, fear inducer to animals/people, it held a variety of other uses...
It is simple to make! A flat piece of wood, thin, and not necessarily straight and string is all that is needed. The wood acts as an 'aerofoil' that spins individually in a larger rotational spin. This backspin creates a deep vibrational hum akin to lions and motor engines. It carries far, both in pitch and vibration.
Here are a few I have made:
SHAPE:
An Australian Aboriginal style Bullroarer.
15.5" long. Made from seasoned Douglas Fir. String is wrapped sisal agave twine. Has traditional paint and long semi-amorphous teardrop shape.
Classical Bullroarer in the Nigerian style. Thin, narrow, tapered on both ends. 11" long. One of my favorites and best sounding.
Has wooden handle. Wood is seasoned Cypress.
Bullroarer in the Apache style. Called 'tzi-ditindi' or 'sounding wood'. Square shape, with incised decor. 6" long. Has mellow, warm sound. Leather sling for handhold. Wood is seasoned Cypress.
Bullroarer in a semi-British Isles style. I say 'semi' because they traditionally put serrated notches along the margin, which I left out as it is one of my best sounding and I didn't want to change it! Has a conical point. Heavier. 8" long. Has a wooden handle. Wood is seasoned, dense Cypress.
Heavy Bullroarer made from seasoned Douglas Fir. Has a heavy string and makes a deep resonance, but not any louder than the others. This one will make your arm tired! 15" long.
String and Handle:
The length of string is determined by the size of the bullroarer and by the type of rotation you want. Going for more string, holding the excess in the opposite hand is one method.
I like to go for a length of about 2'-3' as this lets me spin one-handed, and both over my head or to my side without requiring too much space.
I am currently using all kinds of string! Thin paracord has been very successful, as you can melt the knots. Other nylons will break pretty fast! Sisal cordage is strong but will also breakdown and is rough to the touch. Keep in mind, anything spinning that much, under that much tension will break a cord!
This nylon string snapped after a few spins, but was great in the hand.
My favorite cordage plant, New Zealand Flax, or Phormium, is one of the strongest yielding plant fibers, and I have used it as well. Thicker strings break less and hurt the hands less, but they dull the sound somewhat, and are bulkier. There is some correspondence between the string weight and bullroarer weight. If the string is too heavy, the sound will be muted.
How much tension? Well, I've had a string wrap so tightly it cut into my skin, deep, like butter. I've also has cordage rub the skin off, blister, and burnish my skin. This is where handholds come in to play.
These are from thinner cordage only after a minute or two, thicker cordage does less of this, as softer as well, but there is a trade-up!
I have made wooden handles and leather tong-type handles. These allow for ease of spin, no chaffing of skin and one-handed rotation.
Yes, you may all recognize this instrument from Crocodile Dundee...
Although used widely by Australian Aboriginals, the Bullroarer or turndun, or rhombus, is probably the most widely used instrument all over the world. It has over 60 names. It existed in Africa (Nigeria, Mali, etc.), British Isles (Scotland, it was called 'thunder spell'), North America (Navajo, Apache, Zuni, etc.), and was used for a variety of purposes.
It was predominately used as a 'phone' to communicate over large distances. It was sacred in ceremonial gatherings, it was a musical instrument, hunting tool, fear inducer to animals/people, it held a variety of other uses...
It is simple to make! A flat piece of wood, thin, and not necessarily straight and string is all that is needed. The wood acts as an 'aerofoil' that spins individually in a larger rotational spin. This backspin creates a deep vibrational hum akin to lions and motor engines. It carries far, both in pitch and vibration.
Here are a few I have made:
SHAPE:
An Australian Aboriginal style Bullroarer.
15.5" long. Made from seasoned Douglas Fir. String is wrapped sisal agave twine. Has traditional paint and long semi-amorphous teardrop shape.
Classical Bullroarer in the Nigerian style. Thin, narrow, tapered on both ends. 11" long. One of my favorites and best sounding.
Has wooden handle. Wood is seasoned Cypress.
Bullroarer in the Apache style. Called 'tzi-ditindi' or 'sounding wood'. Square shape, with incised decor. 6" long. Has mellow, warm sound. Leather sling for handhold. Wood is seasoned Cypress.
Bullroarer in a semi-British Isles style. I say 'semi' because they traditionally put serrated notches along the margin, which I left out as it is one of my best sounding and I didn't want to change it! Has a conical point. Heavier. 8" long. Has a wooden handle. Wood is seasoned, dense Cypress.
Heavy Bullroarer made from seasoned Douglas Fir. Has a heavy string and makes a deep resonance, but not any louder than the others. This one will make your arm tired! 15" long.
String and Handle:
The length of string is determined by the size of the bullroarer and by the type of rotation you want. Going for more string, holding the excess in the opposite hand is one method.
I like to go for a length of about 2'-3' as this lets me spin one-handed, and both over my head or to my side without requiring too much space.
I am currently using all kinds of string! Thin paracord has been very successful, as you can melt the knots. Other nylons will break pretty fast! Sisal cordage is strong but will also breakdown and is rough to the touch. Keep in mind, anything spinning that much, under that much tension will break a cord!
This nylon string snapped after a few spins, but was great in the hand.
My favorite cordage plant, New Zealand Flax, or Phormium, is one of the strongest yielding plant fibers, and I have used it as well. Thicker strings break less and hurt the hands less, but they dull the sound somewhat, and are bulkier. There is some correspondence between the string weight and bullroarer weight. If the string is too heavy, the sound will be muted.
How much tension? Well, I've had a string wrap so tightly it cut into my skin, deep, like butter. I've also has cordage rub the skin off, blister, and burnish my skin. This is where handholds come in to play.
These are from thinner cordage only after a minute or two, thicker cordage does less of this, as softer as well, but there is a trade-up!
I have made wooden handles and leather tong-type handles. These allow for ease of spin, no chaffing of skin and one-handed rotation.
