Udderbot

Udderbot

Description

An udderbot is homemade instrument that can be made with a latex glove and a plastic or glass bottle. By removing the bottom of the bottle, you can attach the glove to the bottom. At this point you can add water to the glove and then blow like playing a flute to produce a tone. You can then adjust the pitch of the udderbot by squeezing the glove and displacing the water to change the pitch. Experimentation will need to be done to determine how much water is needed and the range that is required.

Construction

I have used a glass bottle of wine. I used a glass cutter to remove the bottom of the bottle. You can use a large rubber band or even hose clamp to attach the glove to the bottle. Don't overtighten if using a hose clamp.

History

The udderbot is a DIY woodwind instrument co-invented and proposed by Jacob Barton in 2005.[1] It's built out of a bottomless glass bottle and a rubber glove, filled with water. The player's manipulation of the water reservoir allows modulation of the volume (and shape) of the rigid resonating vessel ("bot"). A smooth change of hand position in combination with embochure facilitates a 4-octave continuous glissando range, (5+ octaves including altissimo registers)<ref>https://en.xen.wiki/w/Udderbot</ref?

Technique

Sound is produced by blowing like playing a flute over the top of the bottle. The pitch can be changed by squeezing the glove and displacing the water.