I recently spent a 3 day weekend doing absolutely nothing productive. Part of this very strenuous activity was carried out while plopped in a hammock staring up at pine trees swaying in the breeze. This particular hammock was net-like and made from a fairly fine gauge (nylon?) string. While troubling myself to shift my position in the hammock, I observed that the strings extending from the "net" part of the hammock to the attachment point on the tree made a very audible, nearly musical sound when plucked.

Obviously there are a few obstacles to overcome but, with proper design, a musical hammock could be produced.

An all hammock string band could be formed. Undoubtedly the band would perform rock(ing) music or possibly the band would take a retro approach and play swing music.

(Edit) An alternate opening paragraph for those who are offended by my recent leisurely stay in the White Mountains of Arizona:

I have for some time now been studying a subject that has been unjustly ignored by the scientific and academic communities. After decades of grueling, dedicated research, uncountable sleepless nights, laborious experimentation and considerable personal sacrifice, I am now releasing my findings.
-- half, Sep 05 2002

I haven't done nothing for 3 days since I was in diapers. Croissant
-- thumbwax, Sep 05 2002


I'm quite certain that you could produce music from this contraption if you converted the woven cotton strings of the hammock to monofilament polypropylene or other traditional ukelele string material. I'm also pretty sure that those same strings will finely dice me before the afternoon's nap session is complete....Just in time for tonight's barbecue?
-- jurist, Sep 05 2002


where's thumb's croissant?
-- yamahito, Sep 05 2002


and his punctuati
-- General Washington, Sep 05 2002


// I recently spent a 3 day weekend doing absolutely nothing productive. Part of this very strenuous activity was carried out while plopped in a hammock staring up at pine trees swaying in the breeze. //

You have no idea how much I hate you for telling me that. I'm with thumbwax.

On the other hand, croissant for an intriguing idea. Maybe the strings could be played with a bow, like a cello.
-- 8th of 7, Sep 05 2002


There it is, and, there it is.
.
-- thumbwax, Sep 05 2002


Strikes me a hammock is a woefully underdeveloped item. The amount of gravity generated by an adult human could certainly be harnessed, somehow...

okay got it. standby for posting.
-- General Washington, Sep 05 2002


[jurist], while the monofilament strings would probably be helpful, this hammock was made of some sort of woven synthetic string with a diameter somewhere on the order of 1mm. (If stretched tightly enough this hammock could likely be used to dice potatoes.)
-- half, Sep 05 2002


genius
-- JesusHChrist, Mar 21 2005


+ I would like one of these for my halfbakery shift ...
-- xandram, May 10 2006


Three cheers for the "random" button. +
-- shapu, Jul 07 2006


[+] and I would like to propose a bass version be made immediately.
-- gomer, Sep 05 2008



random, halfbakery