Tag Archives: Music

Just like many other artists, LEGO builders find inspiration in the music they listen to as they create the wonderful models you see here on The Brothers Brick. It’s no surprise, then, that music inspires many LEGO models more directly, from minifig musicians to album art recreated with bricks.

Building in the two tone style

During the late 70s and early 80s The Specials made some of the most innovative and iconic singles to ever grace the British music charts. Not only did they mix ska, punk and rocksteady beats to raucous effect, they married it with a two tone fashion sense that set them apart from their peers. Red 2 has caught the band at the height of their powers, as they appeared in the music video for their 1979 hit A Message to You Rudy. The LEGO version of the group perfectly capturing their tonic suits, and my favourite part of the build, pork pie hats made form small dishes and domes. It’s no small feat to build all nine members, but it pays off with each posed in mid-swagger, capturing the very essence of their musical style.

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This LEGO piano is taking baby grand to a whole new level [Video]

Donny Chen is a musician, piano teacher, and piano tuner. That would explain the epic mastery behind this phenomenal LEGO instrument. I’m a piano player myself, and grew up fascinated with the inner-workings of our own (life-size) grand piano. I must say, this little marvel is basically the complete package!

While it doesn’t have all 88 keys that a real grand piano would have, it does have a very similar mechanism.

New York, London, Paris, Munich, everybody talk about block music

Are you ready to rock? That’s what David Liu is asking with his latest LEGO creation — a selection of excellent brick-built musical instruments. There’s a classic Flying-V electric guitar and amp, a synth, a full drum kit, and an acoustic guitar. Now the band might be lacking a little in the bass department, but this is still an impressive line-up of gear. The guitars show nice shaping for the scale employed, and the keyboard is packed with details — don’t miss those black keys, raised and correctly spaced!

The full line-up of instruments is great, but the highlight for me is that drum kit. Worthy of a closer look, especially the sweet parts use for the tripods and drum kit legs…

A note from the maestro

LEGO builder bbchai brings a bit of old-school class to the scene, to the tune of a lovely violin and bow paired with a bust of the famous musician Mozart. This wonderful composition would look great on any music lover’s desk. The clips which make up the embroidery on Mozart’s jacket are a superbly simple technique that works perfectly, and the lightsaber handles for the wig’s white curls are similarly great.

The violin and bow are masterpieces as well, with the plate 1×2 with handle making for excellent F-holes. Of course, they have a nifty little stand to hold them with the care they deserve.

The day that hip-hop died

Personally, I find it a bit of a sad testament to where hip-hop music is heading compared to it’s original socially conscious roots. But whether hip-hop fans love it or hate it, the bizarre video for the latest collaboration between Kanye West and Lil Pump is already being widely hailed as “meme gold”. And it’s easy to see why from the costumes donned by the two rappers in this Spike Jonze production – costumes that are almost as over-the-top as the song’s lyrics. With many people comparing the look to characters from the ersatz-Minecraft game Roblox, a LEGO interpretation seemed like the next logical step. So I made one. You’re welcome!

Get ready to rock out with this LEGO Eddie Riggs from Brütal Legend

Brütal Legend is the satirical video game about heavy metal that was remarkably well received, considering its unusual premise. Matt De Lanoy brings us the epic sculpture of the game’s hero, Eddie Riggs, who’s voiced in the game by none other than Jack Black, of course.

Click to see more of Eddie Riggs

Swan Lake ballet automaton built from LEGO

Automata built from LEGO always amaze and inspire me. Growing up, my favorite ballet was Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, which I had the privilege to see performed by the Bolshoi Ballet at the height of their skill in the late 70’s when they toured Japan. Pixeljunkie has built a LEGO automata with a music box inside that plays the theme from the ballet while a minifigure dancer twirls around the top.

The video showcases the music box feature, as well as the way a group of dancers can also be attached to the mechanism to dance on the stage.

Synthesize your own LEGO Moog Sub Phatty [Instructions]

We recently highlighted a selection of LEGO audio gear, including a Moog Sub Phatty. Quy’s LEGO version of this synthesizer is a really fantastic creation and proved very popular. Quy Chau has kindly shared breakdown instructions for his build, should you wish to build and play your own LEGO Moog Sub Phatty.

Click here for breakdown instructions

A luxury audio setup for a fraction of the price

Once in a while you’ll come across a LEGO build that you need to stare at for a few seconds to realise that it’s actually made out of bricks. This selection of audio gear by Quy Chau is the best example in a while. There’s so many clever uses of parts and great scaling that it’s impossible to pick a standout, but the use of various automotive pieces does it for me. Wheels are used here for speakers, dials and subwoofers, and a steering wheel piece makes the best earphone cups I have ever seen.

Moog Sub Phatty

If you’re confused by the name of this build on Flickr, “Moog Sub Phatty”, it’s the synthesizer which sits in the middle of this scene. This is, of course, also a phenomenal build. Those dials are regular Technic friction pins with grey bars through them — a really simple technique that adds a lot to the build. Finally, the keys do depress, but they don’t pop back up.

On a highway to hell

Yesterday brought the sad news of the death of Malcolm Young — a founder member of rock band AC/DC. The news prompted me to build a little tribute model. AC/DC provided the soundtrack to my youth, and I was lucky enough to see them a couple of times.

Don’t need reason, don’t need rhyme,
Ain’t nothing I would rather do,
Going down, party time,
My friends are gonna be there too…

RIP Malcolm Young. Enjoy a drink with Bon Scott when you get down there.

Piano model is just grand

Who wouldn’t want to sit down at this lovely LEGO piano and pick out a tune? Robert4168/Garmadon has put together a fantastic model — from the spot-on shiny black curves of the shape, through to the instrument’s innards visible beneath the hinged lid. There’s a bunch of nice details which also elevate this creation out of the ordinary — in particular the gold touches on the pedals and the rings used at the feet of both piano and stool. Excellent presentation too — that wooden floor is the perfect setting. It doesn’t distract attention from the main model, but creates a simple surrounding impression of a stage or practice room.

Playable Life-size 88 Key LEGO Piano Keyboard

Tickling the ivories is clearly a hobby for alanboar. Combine that with a love of ABS and you have this beautiful full-size, 88-key soft-touch piano keyboard which he has meticulously reconstructed out of around 5,000 LEGO elements. At first glance, you may be forgiven for thinking this was real — as it looks much like a genuine, life-size, real piano keyboard. Measuring 1.4m by 30cm (4.5 feet by 12 inches) this amazing replica is even playable! My favorite feature is how Alan has customized it with his own name emblazoned across the top. A beautiful piece of equipment that would not look amiss set up on stage with a world-famous keyboardist and supporting band.