THEREMIN LESSON SIX by Thomas Grillo

[madebythebird]

That's an incredible reply, thanks T. Don't know how you find time to reply to us lot and live life! Your concert clips kept us happy for part of Christmas day in the UK by the way!

[ThomasGrillo]

@madebythebird Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad my music found it's way into your holiday festivities.

[madebythebird]

TG, thankyou so much for sharing so much with us.

It seems that the Moog has the nicest tones out of the theremins i've heard.

Does anyone feel the Moogs also have a more linear pitch response than most theremins? I'm struggle a little, pitching the higher registers on mine without getting cramp!

[ThomasGrillo]

@madebythebird Thanks for the kind words, and you're welcome. :)

Moog Music put out a model a few years back called the Etherwave Pro, which was linear, well, almost linear. Certainly more linear than their Etherwave Standard. The Etherwave Pro was discontinued, and sometimes appears on ebay.

You can try, spreading out your pitch field a bit to expand the notes nearest the rod. I also have a method for dealing with non-linear theremins. When getting close to rod, go diagnally up.

[ThomasGrillo]

@Hyrobaka Thank you for the kind words. There is a lesson 7. :)

You can even find theremins for about $200 at soundslikeburns on the web. Just head to my channel for a link to them. Tell them I sent you. :)

I wish you all the best with the theremin.

[lantas100]

Lol, lady behind the camera?

[ThomasGrillo]

@lantas100 NOPE! ;) It's a real instrument that just sounds like one. LOL :)

[dragantoe]

is there a lesson on how to play specific notes? because i try to play my theremin and i can't figure out how to play specific notes. also, when and how do you use the volume loop?

[thehurtline]

I got a pitch-only theremin in September and practiced until I developed my method of aerial fingering (and got enough money to buy a Moog.) I definitely recommend beginners to get a pitch-only: they're cheap, and they don't overwhelm you. You can focus on getting the notes right, which is what most of your energy is going towards and most of the practice is for.

Thank you for the videos Thomas Grillo.

[ThomasGrillo]

Theremin Lesson 7 will feature just the pitch only theremin, and a cool way to control dynamics with it using a pedal. :)

[thehurtline]

Don't make me want to buy more stuff; I'm broke and addicted to theremin!!! Can't wait for lesson 7!!!

[ThomasGrillo]

LOL :) I'm in the same boat. :)

I'll keep that in mind, but you likely allready have everything that will be covered in the lesson. :)

[CheapCoffee]

I just discovered this instrument a couple of days ago. I was completely blown away by the sound it makes! I had never even heard of it. One of the instruments I play is singing saw and this reminded me of it. I'd love to get ahold of one to fiddle with it. These were great videos and they have me extremely interested.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks. :)

Have a look at my channel for a list of manufacturers, prices, and info on how theremins work.

[HyperAndHappy]

We have one of these at the music store we're I work Its a Moog Ether wave standard (I think), but no one has any idea how to play it (its been in the store since before I was born), its makes it harder when people keep walking around it. xD Your video's help me under stand it a lot more, you're extremely talented, thanks for up loading. ^^

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks for the kind words. I hope you'll start playing the theremin since it's there. :)

[GooPhase]

What equipment do you use? I would like to know what amplifiers and/or synth you use with this? Any iformation would be most appreciated!

[ThomasGrillo]

All I used was a mackie mixer with no effects, other than a Digitec Digiverb pedal for a bit of reverb. The speaker was a hot-spot peaker connected to the mixer.

The tone you hear is the Etherwave Standard theremin's own tone. I added vibrato by wiggling my hand slightly.

[GooPhase]

Thank you very much! Now that I know I need no special equipment other than a mixer I may just try to stick my hand, if you will, into one of these most interesting of instruments.

[ThomasGrillo]

You're welcome.

You'll find it quite interesting once you've experienced the theremin first hand. :)

[Barpoint212]

Thanks very much for posting these videos! I've really enjoyed your clear explanations and your enthusiasm, as well as your playing.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks for the kind words. :)

[potetgull0]

Could you please make a video where you play the Godfather theme tune?:D it would sound so cool! Kinda cool instrument

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you.

Unfortunately, The Godfather is under copyright.

You're right though. That is a great tune for theremin. If I can ever secure copyright permission to perform it, I certainly would.

[Honkidude]

great feeling

[javadude54]

I can think of another potential use for the horizontal vibrato and that would be to mimic the kind of wide vibrato that is popular in hard rock/heavy metal guitar these days. It is common for a lead guitar player to bend a note up a step and then quickly bend the note up and down between the upper and lower note as opposed to the more classic vibrato where the pitch changes slightly above and below the target note by increasing/decreasing the tension on the string.

[ThomasGrillo]

Indeed. Horizontal vibrato is used for those things. It's great for producing sci-fi like vibrato, and I go horizonatlly when executing trills too.

[javadude54]

Fascinating. I've loved the sound of the Theremin since I was a kid thanks to all the scifi movies I watched. I'm really going to have to get one of these instruments. I've played guitar for over 30 years and do a little home recording and I think it would be great fun to (attempt to) learn how to play a Theremin and use it in a song or two. Thanks for posting these very informative videos.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks for the kind words, and you're welcome. :)

[Caldy1234]

Hello again. I finally got a working B3 Deluxe and it's great! But I was wondering if there were any videos which focus on the hand positions in detail because I find it hard to understand them just from reading. Thanks for making these great lessons.

[ThomasGrillo]

At the moment, there are my vids which you're watching. Peter Pringle has a DVD at peterpringle . com, however, his method is a bit difficult to comprehend.

I am in the process of developing a new DVD which will adress your concerns.

I also give formal lessons via a skype connection for those who are not local to me.

[Caldy1234]

Is there any release date for your DVD yet? Sorry for being so pushy =P I'm not familiar with skype what is it?

[ThomasGrillo]

Tentatively before mid summer this year at the latest, It should be available.

Skype is a video, audio, and text messaging service which is free. It works with web-cams, and lets you make video calls for free.

[sandwich451]

cool

[processean242]

thnks sorry i asked the same question on your myspace.

i would love to be one ov your youtube students :)

[ThomasGrillo]

I'm ready to instruct you when ever you're ready.

[processean242]

what theremin should a beginner buy?

i dont think i can do the kit thing :(

[ThomasGrillo]

I usually recommend my students to start on the Burns B3 Deluxe theremin, or the B3 Pro. They're $200, and $350 respectively. You can get them on e-bay from Burns' online ebay shop, or directly from them at soundslikeburns . com.

A bit more intermediate instrument is the Moog Music Etherwave Standard. $400 to 500+ at moogmusic . com.

Kits are usually intended for users with electronic experience.

[kenjibeast]

Howdy boss! I'm in the market for a theremin and right now I'm looking at one of those pretty little Gakken premiums. Any opinions about this model? Thank you for your videos! Really very inspiring stuff.

[ThomasGrillo]

Hi, Thanks for the kind words.

The Gakken Premium is cheap, however, it requires the use of a wrist strap in order to play properly.

It's note spacing (linearity) is not as good as the B3 Deluxe, Etherwaves, and Wavefronts.

It also has a short distance between the volume antenna, and the pitch rod.

These factors make it more difficult to play well.

It's sound sound is not as good.

If you're serious, go for one of the others i mentioned.

[jaetguz]

Hello Thomas....I really admire your knowledge on the Theremin...

I have a couple of questions!!...

when did you start??...How hard is it compared to a guitar for instance???

How much does it cost??

Where are u from?

[ThomasGrillo]

Hi, I started in July, 2006.

Theremin is a demanding instrument. But worth the effort. Because it's played without touching, you have to build new skills, in terms of balance, (keeping still), muscle memory, dexterity, and good ear training. It does take a lot of time. You get out of it, what you put in. I spend 8 to 10 hours a day, every day practicing.

It costs $150 for starter theremins like B3. Goes up from there.

I hail from Jackson, Mississippi.

Check my channel for more info.

[yz250fdude]

did any one ever tell you are a geek

[ThomasGrillo]

Yeh, sure. Nerd, too. ;)

[senkun]

Hi Thomas,

So here I am, lesson 6! Anyways, I'm not sure if it's the video angle but the pitch antenna doesn't look to be vertical. Is it supposed to be absolutely vertical? Does it lock tight onto the side?

Another thing, the volume antenna seems more angled, did you set it that way? Your Moog seems set high, I guess that's why you angled the antenna?

[ThomasGrillo]

The pitch rod on this particular theremin is a few degrees out of true because the instrument got knocked over while I was chasing a gecko that got into my studio. ;)

The volume antenna is indeed deliberately angled because I had to set the instrument high enough to be included in the grame. As it turns out, you only have to connect one part of the volume loop to the threaded port that's nearest the power supply, as that's the one that has the lead connected to it from the circuit board.

[ThomasGrillo]

correction --frame--

[kenjibeast]

What's the brand name of the pitch-only theremin you reference in this video? I'm not sure I can make it out. Matrioman? Sounds interesting, however.

[ThomasGrillo]

Yes, I was mentioning the matryomin which comes from Japan. I was also, pitch only theremins are produced by soundslikeburns, thereminplanet, theremaniacs, and others on the web.

[ThomasGrillo]

The matryomin was invented by Masami Takeuchi in 1999. The matryomin is a pitch only theremin built into a matryoshka doll. They cost about $400.

[DutchieValken]

Can you play more than one note on a theremin at one time?

[ThomasGrillo]

I have played a couple of theremins at once, but the instruments were of the same make, and model, and therefore caused undesired interferance with each other.

Later, I took two different theremins, and was able to play them both at the same time as they did not interfere with each other. However, this is not practical, sinse you can't really work the volume antennas effectively.

If I want harmony, I use a harmonizing pedal with one theremin, and get 4 note plyphony. Pretty cool. ;)

[DutchieValken]

That sounds awesome you should post a video of that :)

[ThomasGrillo]

That is in production. ;)

[kenjibeast]

This is probably my favorite of your videos. The playing here is exquisite. Truly lovely work.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks for the kind words. I had a lot of fun with this lesson episode. ;)

[MrJeekz]

you are amazing.

[DrummerCoCa]

Theremin is such a great instrument, Thomas Grillo, you're great :D

[teckner]

Wow, these are very helpful tutorials!! I wanted to mention that my orchestras conductor (and teacher) told the cellos to start vibratoing even before you start playing  your note. I sure this tip also applies to the theremin, so maybe you can try it out and get back to me if it works. ._.

[ThomasGrillo]

A lot of times, I do start notes with vibrato allready going, but lately I've found that you can input more emotions into "certain" notes, like the start of a phrase, if you start the note smoothly, and then start increasing vibrato, but for the most part, your teacher is right. Most of the time, you do want vibrato before the note starts.

[dpetrosd]

it's scary...you should have sthephen king demonstrating theremin...!

seriously now, im astonished with this instrument....

[huwcatchpoledavies]

I'm not sure if there is a fixed answer for this but what is the lowest and highest (sensible) concert pitch note achievable on the theremin. I realize it may be model defined or defined by the sensitivity of one of the knobs that you explained in one of your previous lessons. Even so, as a composer a standard range would be nice to quote and to work to.

These videos are great, thank you.

[ThomasGrillo]

You are correct in assuming that each model has a different range. The B3 (all 3 models) goes from F3 below mid, to F3 above mid. (about 6 octaves.

Etherwave Standard is G3 below mid, to about G2 above.

Wavefront goes an octave higher than the Standard.

Etherwave Pro extends an octave above, and below the Standard.

You will want to stay within happy medium, say about no more than 2 octaves below mid, and 2 to 3 above mid on a piano. About a 4 to 5 octave range on average.

[huwcatchpoledavies]

Thanks for getting back to me so soon.

[funkypope]

extremely helpful for a theremin newbie ie me!

[ming57]

is it just me or is you volume antenna at a very steep angle for an etherwave standard? Did you mod it?

[ThomasGrillo]

It's not you. ;) I did not mod the antenna. All I did was connected just the audience side of the volueme loop to the audience side connector, which happens to be the one to which the antenna lead runs to the circuit bard. This allows one to set the theremin higher as I needed to in this video while still being able to access the volume antenna comfortably. The RCA, Big Briar Ethervox, Series 91 A, B, and C had volume loops at the angle seen here. The Travelcase volume loop is adjustable too.

[ming57]

so you just dont connect the end of the volume loop on your side and it still works? thanks!

[ThomasGrillo]

It's still connected, but only one part of the antenna is connected. The other threaded connector on the side is not wired to anything, and just serves as a stabalizing mount for the volume anteena in it's normal position. You really only need one part of the antenna connected for it to work. In the single point connectio where I angled it, sensitivity was greatly increased for some reason. ;)

[Carlosyounes]

VERY GOOD JOB !

CONGRATULATIONS !

[iamzaw]

it seams very easy too vibrato a little "too much" giving it a more "alien" sound then actually intended mayby, outherwise great videos keep up the good work!

[ThomasGrillo]

My technique has evolved sinse this video, and my vibrato is smoother these days, allthoug I do like to emulate Clara Rockmore's vibrato quite a bit. ;)

[pabloelguapo]

Could you tell me how does it really works.

It works with magnetic fields or with the static or with what?

[ThomasGrillo]

The theremin creates a radio-magnetic or EM field around the antennas. When we interact with these fields, we become "capacitors" in an electronic circuit. The antennas are really capacitence plates. As we get closer to the vertical rod, we change the capcitence of the circuit, annd thereby affect changes in the electronics which control the tone generating oscilators, and the note goes up. The sound is then routed out to a speaker, amp, or recording device.

[drewleathers]

How exactly does this thing work? I hear you talking about the magnetic field, but when watching you play, i can't discern which part of your hand is creating the note. So my two explicit questions are:

1)How exactly is position of the hand measured?

2)And what part of the hand is creating the measure, either for pitch or volume?

This is an extremely intriguing instrument because its so mathematical. I would like to see some graphical analysis of hand position compared to note produced.

[ThomasGrillo]

Actually, your entire body's capacitence is changing the notes. The hands, and fingers just add, or subract small amounts of capacitence depending on how they are presented to the antenna to change notes. You can move your whole arm to change a note, or just a finger, depending on the player's preference at the time. Generally, the note accuarcy comes from whatever is closest to the antenna, or presenting the largest area. Positioning is determined by ear, and muscle memory (experience).

[SuperMansikki]

I've watched all the six instruction videos here on youtube, and theyve made me want to learn to play the theremin. I've been looking for an instrument I would like to learn to play, and I believe I've found it!

These videos are great, I hope there will be more. Thank you so much, Thomas Grillo!

[ClubEXPRESS]

You gotta put some more vids up man - I like your stuff!

[rayunseitig]

Oh boy, lesson six. Now I'll have to hunt down the other 5. I guess this would make more sense to a music student or teacher. Does it play chords? or make other types of sounds, that would be more like conventional instruments?

[ThomasGrillo]

The theremin can be routed through a harmonizing device which would give you chords. However, like conventional instruments such as trumpet, sax, flute, french horn, tuba, the human voice, ect, the theremin is monophonic.

[curtishoho]

i love this guy he is a true delight

[gutoufpel]

Could anybody tell me how much is a theremin???

[ThomasGrillo]

Etherwave Pro: Discontinued, $1400 Moogmusic.

Etherwave Standard $450 Moogmusic dot com.

Travelcase by Wavefront $800 theremin dot ws.

PAiA theremax kit $230 PAiA dot com.

B3 theremin $150 soundslikeburns dot com.

[DeviantXl]

I want one!!!

[Thereminstrel]

Thanks! Being a pianist, I've found it easiest with the theremin to judge the note-spacing horizontally from side to side. However, I'm now trying to discipline myself to learn some form of aerial-fingering (hoping it will enable greater flexibility/accuracy) but this means a re-think of my arm/hand position, and, as a result, vibrato techinique too. The change is also distracting my attention from the expression loop. I feel like I'm starting over, but hopefully it will be worth the effort.

[ThomasGrillo]

Any change, or modification of a given technique will take time to get used to. Concentrate on the pitch hande for now, and then once you're comfortable with the new techniques, the volume hand should take over again as it did before.

[Zsy6]

Thanks Thomas for another great theremin lesson, I always wonder why some thereminists used vertical vibrato while others used horizontal.

[Punkgi1]

how much are these?

i would love to get one of these!

[ThomasGrillo]

The Etherwave Standard costs about 350 to 400 dollars depending on if you get the kit, or fully built version from moogmusic dot com.

[Punkgi1]

Thanks. looks like im going to have to save up for one of these then!

[MortaniusTaijou]

Man you make me want to go buy a Theremin and start playing it all day!

[Artege]

These videos have inspired me so much. Thanks.

[electriclizardland]

Thank you for your insight into an instrument that has very few instructors. Hopefully,we will hear some better thereminists on youtube and in my home.

[BeFrSc]

Once again, another great video, congratulations, and keep them coming.

[bytesatwork]

Thank you for the idea to distinguish between 'horizontal' and 'vertical' vibrato, and using the two consciously ;o)

...wasn't the theremin placed a little bit high in relation to your arms? (I noticed that the volume-antenna had a very 'distinct' angle though)

Keep on doing the videos! Best wishes...

[ThomasGrillo]

Yes, the theremin was placed high in order to get it into the frame. I also needed to compensate for that by connecting the volume loop so only one end was attatched,allowing me to angle the antenna for comfortable access. Normally I prefer to have the theremin just below elbow hight.

[Wadensten]

Excellent! Thank you so much!