berimbau

First used by CA on Fai-Ya-La (2004). The berimbau">berimbau is known as a Brazilian instrument, but was taken to Brazil by African slaves. It comprises a wooden bow with a wire string and at the bottom of the bow is fixed a gourd-bowl as a resonator. You play it by tapping the string with a stick. I use a metal rod. The note is changed by pressing the string with a stone or coin, etc. So it really has three notes, open string, closed string, and a buzz note that you can get by holding your stone or whatever against the string so that the string vibrates against it. You can modulate the gourd's resonance by moving the instrument closer or further away from your body. (Gerard)

See also
abject noise-makers