The Beat Box

I feel that I should preface this with a brief definition of "beatboxing," just in case you don't know. Beatboxing is the act of simulating a wide range of instrumental sounds using the hands cupped around the lips as a natural cavity of resonance, and emitting strange sounds from the aforementioned lips. It is downright fascinating, at least to me, to observe large groups of people doing this in unison. It is a skill like any other in that it takes extensive practice to develop, and let us face it, the working class just does not have that kind of time. Enter the Beat Box. The Beat Box is basically an instrument very similar to animal calls used in hunting in that it requires air to be blown through it and it translates that air into sound, only these sounds are not the squeals of dying cottontails but bold party beats; like a harmonica, it can be played both by drawing and blowing air. Now, suppose you attach to this basic instrument a hollow plastic bubble which, when compressed, pushes air through the instrument, and when pressure is released, returns to its original shape, thus drawing air in through the instrument. Now, suppose that this hollow plastic bubble is not in the shape of a bubble, but more like an accordion; when one section is collapsed by the appropriate amount of mouth pressure, one sound is produced. Two sections, a different sound (two-toned). Release the pressure, and the sound varies yet again. So tabs for this device would read something like '(bite) down 2, up (release pressure) 1, down 3, up 3, down 1, 2, 3..." Remember, you still have to cup your hands around your mouth, 1. for their original purpose, to enhance the sound, and 2. To impress your friends who think you've learned to "beatbox all sick." The Beat Box is available in bass, tenor, alto, soprano.