The chien bridge is a strange shaped bridge, with a foot under the string notch and a wedge like protrusion from the opposite side. On the soundboard of the gurdy there is a post, with a hollow cut into it to accept the wedge shaped protrusion, so that the chien bridge can pivot up and down, allowing the foot of the bridge to lift from the soundboard like one side of a drawbridge.
When the chien string is engaged with the wheel (it is always on the upper side of the instrument (the wheel is lifting the string, not pushing it down) it draws the chien bridge up off the soundboard a little bit, and then the tension of the string overcomes the rosin 'stickiness' and natural friction, and the string goes back down. This causes the chien bridge to hit the soundboard, simultaneously giving the sound of impact and the vibration of the string. So you get a note like any other drone string, but a sharp attack from a completely secondary source (the impact) that gives you a raspiness that the other drones don't have. When you are moving the wheel in a steady and constant fashion, the effect is minimalized and the buzzing is limited, it is more of a regular drone string sound with a little buzz just because the foot of the bridge is always just a little in motion. But when you give a sudden increase in force or speed to your crank, you cause the more pronounced buzzing sound. So the pattern of your 'accents', called coups, determines the specific rhythm and effect of your chien. It is not like a bray on a harp, where the little wooden flag is just brought into 'buzzing' contact with the string and acts as a little mini bridge to transmit this to the soundboard. It is an active, controllable (well, not by me exactly yet, but maybe one day) part of the instrument that requires your interaction, not just a static piece like a bray. Chris Nogy *********** REPLY SEPARATOR *********** On 1/5/2008 at 2:04 PM Minstrel Geoffrey wrote: When the trompet or dog or chen as I've seen all three used to describe the built in rhythm buzzing sound, how exactly does that thing work? On a harp I know how it works, as its an attachment that you have to put on, for that constant effect, but I only see a key on what appears to be the tail peice, is it a wooden dampner that's applied to the strings, or does it have to do with the wheel? Sent from my iPhone On Jan 5, 2008, at 5:13 AM, "sylvain gagnon mini moteur 2000 inc" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: no problem Scott. i am not perfect in english but , i will do my possible, and i have another friend on this forum who will maybe accept to help us if it is too difficult .. TRANSLATION TEAM..! bye sylvain ----- Original Message ----- From: Scott McKee To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2008 12:00 AM Subject: Re: [HG] Hurdy Gurdy Plans Sylvain, I was thinking I would ask you for help if I had any trouble with the translation! :) Scott ----- Original Message ----- From: sylvain gagnon mini moteur 2000 inc To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 7:21 PM Subject: Re: [HG] Hurdy Gurdy Plans no problem you take french lessons... than.... you buy pignol:s books , lolllllllllllllllllllllllllll.sylvain----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 3:10 PM Subject: Re: [HG] Hurdy Gurdy Plans Scott, The plans that you mentioned by Pignol are excellent and include a volume of detailed information as well as a volume on construction. The plans are VERY complete and the design is sound. The plans include all aspects of the build and the information includes things like the sounds produced by the instrument by the placement of the main bridge at various locations on sound graphs. In my opinion it is the most complete and the most thorough of an design plans I have ever seen. Although it is entirely in French most of it is pretty easy to make out as far as the build goes. The technical information will require a lot of translation. Scott Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year. No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.17.13/1208 - Release Date: 2008-01-03 15:52 No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.17.13/1209 - Release Date: 2008-01-04 12:05
