learn to play the rhythm bones...Hillar Bergman

A demonstration of the basics of how to play the rhythm bones, with examples of various materials and their different sounds. I did this video without any sort of advance preparation, outline or notes. In hindsight, there are a few things I wish I would have added. The palmetto frond I used for the palmetto bones was an extra-wide frond of a palm variety that I have only seen in St. Petersburg Fl. Most of the usual Florida palm fronds that litter the ground after a wind storm are much too narrow to my liking, though the end that grows nearest the tree is the widest. Perhaps those would work as well. Palmetto fronds are easy to whittle. I also made several pairs of bones from various pieces of heartwood from well-seasoned split firewood. I never spent too much time on a refined appearance, just a few thin splits with an axe, and you have a working set. All materials have their own unique sound and responsiveness.
There are several other bones video clips on YouTube as well. Search user "gregoryburrows" for some good examples. Also, be sure to visit www.rhythmbones.com for a wealth of information about the bones!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• percussion
• drums
• how
• to
• learn
• play
• rhythm
• bones
• Traverse
• City
• Fiddler
• MI
• Hillar
• Bergman

[catinnahat]

Some bones players are always on the lookout for unique and unusual sets of bones. Just last week someone showed me a set of bones they had made from real buffalo ribs. I think you have a great idea!

[matthewcross]

my uncle gave me a pair of the black plastic bones that you have in the video a few years before he died. I never looked into how to play them before.  I'm really enjoying your video. Thanks :)

[catinnahat]

@matthewcross you are blessed to have a pair of those old plastic bones with the groove in them and "rhythm bones" cast into the plastic. They work great! I have 2 pairs of the plastic (bakelite?). An old friend of mine worked all his life for GM in a foundry. At 80 years old, he built a small metal furnace in his back yard and made sand molds to cast various objects. He used my plastic bones as a pattern to cast some for me out of aluminum. The aluminum ones are awesome and play LOUD!

[matthewcross]

@catinnahat Hey Hillar - thanks for responding so quickly. You have great skills, and I look forward to learning how to play this new instrument that I've just found out so much more about (I've been a guitar player for many years). It would be much appreciated if you have time to make a video of beginner techniques and exercises that really goes in to the physicality of making the bones work - it's still very foreign to me. Thanks again for this great video.

[catinnahat]

@matthewcross I can't think of much more in the way of instruction from what I have already posted, but there are lots of other "learn the bones" videos on Y.T. I'd suggest looking at as many as you can.

[ruthannzaroff]

Thanks for your video! I have a set of Danforth cherry bones which I bought last year after I discovered the fantastic roots music of the Carolina Chocolate Drops. At this point I'm so terrible that I am mostly flinging the loose bone all about the room (terrifying my cats), but I'll keep at it. Off to terrorize the cats some more . . . clickety-clack!

[catinnahat]

Good luck with your bones playing! For learning, I think it's quite valuable to look through the variety of bones playing videos on YouTube.

[richardbough]

I play the Bones, Tin Whistle, and Bodhran. I'm looking into starting to manufacture sets of natural bones with scrimshaw done on them. What ya think about that idea?

[mozes899]

I just recently started on the bones & I play with the radio driving down the road too. A good way to utilize the time that you already have.

[BusterTwilightPrince]

Thanks for the beeswax tip, I have been experiencing flying bones