The horizontally layed out harp is covered with these rain catching disks, each on a flexible wire. Below each disk is a small metal hammer element. When a raindrop hits a particular disk, it in turn strikes the area of the string below it.

Alternately long rain catching picks, picture a long pineapple leaf shaped thing, could simply be arrayed around the harp each reaching into a particular string, plucking it rather than striking it when hit with a rain drop. You might have to play around with leverage points to get a solid pluck but I think it could be done.

The harp would have a standard tuning and the notes would be random, not playing any particular tune.

You could have the strings all tuned to major chords or even notes that create melodic movements, but I think just having random notes playing nothing particularly musical would match the rain better.

The linked example has reverb which could be easily achieved with springs attached to the resonating chamber within the harp body.

ADDENDUM: Thinking of how to slow this down, instead of panels striking or plucking a string with each drop, little spoons or cups could take some measure of time to fill up and when heavy enough, push down and pluck or strike the string. I think I like the idea of these being activated more slowly to be more relaxing.
-- doctorremulac3, Feb 11 2023

I think harps already kind of sound like rain. https://www.youtube...wntyM&start_radio=1
[doctorremulac3, Feb 11 2023]

Realistically probably be a smaller one like this. https://www.youtube...watch?v=C29PzUZGLTM
For the plucking approach, you'd have to make the surface area of the rain catching elements pretty big. [doctorremulac3, Feb 11 2023]

Think I'll buy one of these and rig it. https://www.youtube...watch?v=zDIsBNWTgOE
See if it actually works. [doctorremulac3, Feb 11 2023]

Large_20Musical_20C..._20Umbrella_20Array [xenzag, Feb 11 2023]

Current wind harps (Aeolian harp) https://www.youtube...watch?v=buZjtQv-Wng
Oh my god these are annoying as hell! Sounds like an air raid siren! [doctorremulac3, Feb 11 2023]

I'm gonna add that you'd stick this on your window with suction cups at the top and have the bottom leveraged up with section making contact with the window so the vibrations could be transferred through the window pane making it easier to hear.

The plucker things could stick out into the rain as far as necessary to get the required leverage.

And bonus, with long and light enough string activation things it gets played by the wind as well!! Could even make a specialized vertical version specifically for wind. Have the strings in a cylinder shape rotating getting hit by picks or have the picks rotated by the wind picking the strings.

Okay, I'm building one of these.

PS: Your percussion section umbrella is brilliant xen.
-- doctorremulac3, Feb 11 2023



random, halfbakery