Conch Shell Horn

[Seatan]

Does anyone on here play conch shells? I am thinking of making or buying a conch shell horn and trying to learn to play. (Of course I will have to jump the band director at my school and get him to teach me how to even blow on it, LOL!) It just seems like something that would be fun to do. Anyone done it?

[Merman Dan]

Conch shells do not play like an ocarina. They play more like a vuvuleza - one note very loud. You can vary the tone some, by moving your hand in and out of the main cavity.

Coming to MerFest? I'll bring my conch horn. :)

[Mermaid Kelda]

I was googling this a little while ago! I found a nice little info video on the different sounds conch shells make/the different ways you can hold them: youtube.com/watch?v=fEpbN01IsYg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEpbN01IsYg)

And I found a guy who plays a seashell he fashioned into a flute: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJauf37Czog
Totally wanna make one of those to play for kids, once I find the right shell :)

[Merman Dan]

I have an ocarina shaped like a fish... does that count? ;)

[Seatan]

I saw those flutes too! They look really cool... Honestly, the few notes a conch can make are enough for me, lol. I am not very musically adventurous, I just think it would be fun :)

[Anahita]

Well, I think I just solved my instrument problem. Lol. The shell flutes look way easier to manage than that hydraulophone (The hydraulophone wasn't so much of an issue as getting a hold of the guy and getting a straight answer from him was. Apparently he heard "mermaid" and backed out when we directly attempted to flesh out the cost and method of payment and ordering because he said he had dealt with a mermaid before? Probably someone who wasn't actually going to buy anything, because he was adamant about me actually going out to Toronto for the damn thing, then dumped us off on some composer guy - which why the hell do I need to talk to a composer to order? I don't want music written, I'm perfectly capable of that myself, I just wanted to buy the damn instrument.)

[Dee Tal]

I highly recommend making your own conch shell horn if you can as it is an easy and rewarding experience. I picked up a good sized conch shell at a thrift store and with a dremel (one could use a hacksaw and file) made a horn in about half an hour (two different cuts). I really enjoyed taking mine to the park and giving it a blast. They are so loud and the sound just carries on.

[Mermaid Isabel(:]

I have a conch shell horn and boy it is not as easy as it looks! Lol I still haven't figured it out hopefully that video helps thank you for posting :) and the flute is so cute!

[Merman Dan]

I have a conch shell horn and boy it is not as easy as it looks! Lol I still haven't figured it out...

Are you holding one hand inside the main cavity of the conch? You'll get a much richer sound when you do that.

[Mermaid Isabel(:]

I've tried to but I think I'm just blowing into it wrong. I used to play flute so it's kinda sad I can't accomplish this haha

[Dee Tal]

It's more like playing a trumpet. Buzzing the lips with the right tension takes some practice. Also it is vital that the hole be the size of a dime and you've taken out some of the material inside. When I made mine the hole was just a tiny bit too small and I couldn't get anything nice. I cut off more, cleaned it up and it was so much easier.

[Mermaid Isabel(:]

I will have to practice and perhaps make my own since the hole in this one is bigger than a dime :) thank you for the tips!

[Dee Tal]

Well, bigger than a dime might work too (a tuba mouthpiece is much bigger and that works) but smaller than a dime seems a no go.

[Mermaid Isabel(:]

Ah then it's just me that's the problem haha practice practice practice!! :)

[Merman Dan]

Something simple to demonstrate the sound of the triton shell and queen conch.


http://youtu.be/fEhVqkEnswc

[Mermaid Isabel(:]

Wow the triton shell sounds a lot better in my opinion

[MermanZen]

Wow I want a triton shell!! that sounded much better also