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Moodswinger

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In 2006 luthier Yuri Landman built the Moodswinger, a 12 string overtone zither for Aaron Hemphill of the noiseband Liars

The Moodswinger is a custom made string instrument made by Yuri Landman. Although it closely resembles an electric guitar, it is actually a zither, as it has neither frets nor a proper neck. The pickup and electronics are built into the neck instead of in the body like usual electric guitars.

In March 2006 the band Liars contacted Landman to make an instrument for them. After 6 months he finished 2 copies of The Moodswinger, an electric 12-string 3rd bridge overtone zither, one for guitarist/drummer Aaron Hemphill and one for himself.

How it works

Tone combination[1]

The 3rd bridge divides the strings into two segments with different pitches. Depending on where the string is played, a bell-like harmonic second tone is created. The string resonates more or less when the back side is struck, depending on the position of the 3rd bridge along the string. This can be explained by acoustic resonance and microtonality. At harmonic nodal positions, the string resonates more than at other positions. For instance, dividing the string 1/3 + 2/3 creates a clear overtone, while 24/33 + 9/33 creates an indistinct overtone.

Tuning and scales

In contrast to other third bridge guitar predecessors, the Moodswinger is more focused on an easy non-atonal playing technique. A mathematical scale is added to specify 23 harmonic positions on the strings. Because the instrument has 12 strings, tuned in a circle of fourths, it is always possible to play every note of the equal tempered scale. However some positions have a + or - indication, because the equal tempered scale is not a perfect well-tempered scale.[2]

Tuning

Piano keys translated to Moodswinger tuning

The tuning of this instrument is a circle of fourths: E-A-D-G-C-F-A#-D#-G#-C#-F#-B, arranged in 3 clusters of 4 strings each to make the field of strings better readable.

Because of this tuning all five neighbouring strings form a harmonic pentatonic scale and all seven neighbouring strings form a major scale, available in every key. This allows a very easy fingerpicking technique without picking false notes, if the right key is chosen.

Scales

Moodswinger scale, based on overtone positions

The instrument has 3 printed scales, used as guides for positioning the moveable third bridge and reading the played notes:

  • The normal guitar (equal-tempered) scale
  • An inverse scale (large steps between the frets at the top of the neck, small ones at the body bridge)
  • A microtonal scale which shows "logical" string divisions in the following color-coded groups:
    • Grey dot: 1/2
    • Red dot: 1/3+2/3
    • Orange dot: 1/4+3/4
    • Yellow dot: 1/5-4/5
    • Green dot: 1/6+5/6
    • Blue dot: 1/7-6/7
    • And a smaller subscale for the higher-pitched overtones near the body bridge in colored lines:
      • Grey line: 1/8
      • Red line: 1/9
      • Orange line: 1/10
      • Yellow line: 1/11
      • Green line: 1/12
      • Blue line: 1/16

Moodswinger overtone diagram

The sound of a 3rd bridged string is a combination of 3 tones. A soft sounding attack tone of the string part hit at the body side, the corresponding overtone of both sides and a resonating low fundamenal tone of the counterpart of the string at the head side. The diagram below shows the tone combinations of the overtone (above) and the low tone of the counterpart (below). The attack tone is in most positions exact the same note as the overtone. Exceptions are 3/4, 3/5, 3/7 and 5/7. In the 3/... positions the overtone is a perfect fifth of the attack tone, in the 5/7 positions the overtone is a major third of the attack tone.

Moodswinger overtone diagram, click for full-size image
Bridge position Colour codes Attack tone

related to open string[3]

Resonating fundamental

of the counterpart [4]

related to open string

Corresponding overtone

related to open string

Corresponding overtone

related to fundamental of the counterpart

Cents

of string parts[5]

Body : Neck

0 Unison Unison
1/16 Grey line 4 Octaves Diatonic semitone 4 Octaves Augmented fourth 21ma
111.73 : 4800.00
1/12 Green line Just Perfect fifth 21ma Lesser undecimal neutral second Just Perfect fifth 21ma Just Perfect fourth 21ma
150.64 : 4302.00
1/11 Yellow line Greater septimal tritone 21 ma Greater undecimal neutral second Greater septimal tritone 21 ma Just major third 21ma
165.00 : 4151.30
1/10 Orange line Just major third 21ma Just minor tone Just major third 21ma Just minor tone 21ma
182.40 : 3986.30
1/9 Red line Just minor tone 21ma Major second or Just minor tone Just minor tone 21ma 3 Octaves
203.91 : 3803.90
1/8 Grey line 3 Octaves Diminished third 3 Octaves Just Major sixth 15ma
203.91 : 3600.00
1/7 Blue dot Augmented sixth 15ma Septimal minor third Augmented sixth 15ma Just Perfect fifth 15ma
266.87 : 3368.80
1/6 Green dot Just perfect fifth 15ma Just minor third Just perfect fifth 15ma Just major third 15ma
315.64 : 3102.00
1/5 Yellow dot Just major third 15ma Just major third Just major third 15ma 2 Octaves
386.31 : 2786.30
1/4 Orange dot Fifteenth Just perfect fourth Fifteenth Twelfth
498.04 : 2400.00
2/7 Blue dot Augmented sixth 8va Augmented fourth or tritone Augmented sixth 15ma Just major third 15ma
582.51 : 1782.51
1/3 Red dot Twelfth Just perfect fifth Twelfth Octave
701.96 : 1901.96
2/5 Yellow dot Just major third 8va Just major sixth Just major third 15ma Just Perfect fifth 8va
884.36 : 1586.31
3/7 Blue dot Septimal minor third 8va Augmented sixth Augmented sixth 15ma 2 Octaves
968.83 :1466.87
1/2 Grey dot Octave Octave Octave Unison
1200.00 :1200.00
4/7 Blue dot Augmented sixth Septimal minor third 8va Augmented sixth 15ma Just Perfect fifth 8va
1466.87 : 968.83
3/5 Yellow dot Just major sixth Just major third 8va Just major third 15ma Octave
1586.31 : 884.36
2/3 Red dot Just perfect fifth Twelfth Twelfth Unison
1901.96 : 701.96
5/7 Blue dot Augmented fourth or tritone Augmented sixth 8va Augmented sixth 15ma Octave
1782.51 : 582.51
3/4 Orange dot Just perfect fourth Fifteenth or 2 Octaves Fifteenth Unison
2400.00 : 498.04
4/5 Yellow dot Just major third Just major third 15ma Just major third 15ma Unison
2786.30 : 386.31
5/6 Green dot Just minor third Just Perfect fifth 15ma Just Perfect fifth 15ma Unison
3102.00 : 315.64
6/7 Blue dot Septimal minor third Augmented sixth 15ma Augmented sixth 15ma Unison
3368.80 : 266.87

Music

After Liars received their Moodswinger, they started recording their fourth album Liars. The song Leather Prowler is played with the Moodswinger,[6] in many reviews confused with a piano.[7]

Sources

References