Basics of Playing the Theremin

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Part of the video series: How to Play the Theremin

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Summary: To play the theremin, move your hands near the volume antenna and pitch antenna to adjust the pitch and volume of the sound. Learn the basics of how to play the theremin in this free music lesson video from a professional avant garde musician.

Views: 2,224 | Tags: theremin, leo, musical-instruments, composer, oscillators, avante-garde, musiclessons, musical instruments

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About the Expert

Barry Schwam Barry Schwam has been a professional musician for more than thirty years and continues to perform in Southern California, where he now lives. read more

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Video Transcript

Basics of Playing the Theremin

Playing the theremin. The theremin this particular theremin is a Etherwave theremin made by Robert Moog and it is set up pretty much like the original theremin was in the 1920s with the volume antenna, the left and the pitch antenna vertical antenna on the right and this is because most people are right handed and you want your promenade hand playing the pitch with your left hand or your other hand playing the volume. Well I'm left hand so with most theremin's are made for right handers I'm simply going to turn the theremin around like that so that my left hand can play the promenade pitch. Now how to play a theremin is this to get the very lowest note I want my promenade hand about 2 feet from the pitch antenna that would give me the lowest note if the theremin is in tune properly. It should be about a A. And if I want to increase the pitch I move my hand closely to the pitched antenna. My right hand which is covering the volume antenna the loop antenna should remain about 2 inches or less from the antenna. That damping the theremin makes it produce no sound and as I raise my hand that is when I get volume. When I get to about 8 inches away that is when the theremin swells to its fullest volume. Of course the maximum volume is limited only by the amplifier that you would play the theremin through.