Build
Symphonies
From Scratch.
Presented by Reinhardt Buhr. Discover the intense, hyper-creative world of live looping. One artist, infinite layers, monumental soundscapes.
The One-Man
Orchestra.
Live looping is the ultimate tightrope walk. There are no backing tracks, no safety nets, and no bandmates to hide behind. Every rhythm, every bassline, and every soaring melody is recorded perfectly in real-time, right in front of the audience.
South African multi-instrumentalist Reinhardt Buhr has mastered this art form. Blending Spanish guitar, electric cello, Australian didgeridoo, Israeli shofar, and vocal percussion, he builds towering, cinematic soundscapes that sound like a 10-piece ensemble.
The Philosophy
Mistakes become features. You must commit to every sound you lay down.
The Execution
Timing is everything. Striking the pedal a fraction of a second late ruins the entire groove.
The Looper's Arsenal
The essential hardware you need to start building your own sonic worlds. Here are the industry-standard pedals and setups.
Boss RC-505 MkII
DesktopThe absolute holy grail of beatboxers and multi-instrumentalists. Played entirely with the hands.
- 5 independent stereo tracks.
- Built-in input and track FX.
- Perfect for tabletop setups.
Boss RC-600
FloorThe ultimate floor-based looper for guitarists and instrumentalists whose hands are full.
- 6 stereo phrase tracks.
- 9 freely assignable footswitches.
- 32-bit sound quality (massive headroom).
Ableton + MIDI
SoftwareFor those who want zero limits. Using Ableton's native Looper device mapped to a MIDI foot controller.
- Infinite track count.
- Use studio-grade VST plugins.
- Requires laptop + MIDI board (e.g., FCB1010).
The Loop Protocol
The Foundation (Percussion)
You cannot build a house on sand. The first loop dictates the tempo and feel of the entire song.
- Beatbox a kick and snare, or tap on the guitar body.
- Ensure the "1" beat is struck precisely on the pedal.
The Anchor (Bassline)
The bridge between rhythm and melody. Keep it simple and deeply locked into the kick drum.
- Use an octave pedal to pitch guitar down 12 steps.
- Or use a synth bass (like Reinhardt's setups).
The Bed (Harmony)
Adding the chords that will define the emotion of the track.
- Strummed guitar chords, atmospheric synths, or a cello drone.
- Volume swells help blend this layer seamlessly.
The Flight (Lead & Solo)
The loop is set. The background is roaring. It's time to step out and command the stage live.
- This layer is usually NOT looped. It is played entirely live over the bed.
- Spanish guitar solos, soaring vocals, or aggressive cello lines.