Junkyard Jam Band

7   Circuit Bending for Beginners

The Slinkiphone (Project 1) and Scratchbox (Project 5) hint at a fundamental truth of the modern age: there are lots of really neat sounds hiding inside your toys and consumer electronics. Cracking open cheap electronics and feasting on the sonic goo within is called circuit bending. This sort of exploration was pioneered by artist Reed Ghazala, the “Father of Circuit Bending,” who stumbled across his first bends as a teen in the mid-1960s. Ghazala has tirelessly promoted the creative potential of musically upcycling consumer electronics ever since. In this project, you’ll get your feet wet with three entry-level bends.

Thrift stores, garage sales, and remainder bins are full of electronic toys ripe for exploration. ...