Washboard (musical instrument)
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Conversely, the frottoir (zydeco rubboard) dispenses with the frame and consists simply of the metal ribbing hung around the neck. It is played primarily with spoon handles or bottle openers in a combination of strumming, scratching, tapping and rolling.
The frottoir or vest frottoir is played as a stroked percussion instrument, often in a band with a drummer, while the washboard generally is a replacement for drums.
There is a Polish traditional jazz festival and music award named "Złota Tarka" (Golden Washboard). Washboards, called "zatulas", are also occasionally used in Ukrainian folk music.
Performance
There are three general ways of deploying the washboard for use as an instrument. The first, mainly used by American players like Washboard Chaz of the Washboard Chaz Blues Trio and Ralf Reynolds of the Reynolds Brothers Rhythm Rascals, is to drape it vertically down the chest. The second, used by European players like David Langlois of the Blue Vipers of Brooklyn, Ben Turner of Piedmont Bluz, and Stephane Seva of Paris Washboard, is to hold it horizontally across the lap, or, for more complex setups, to mount it horizontally on a purpose-built stand. The third (and least common) method, used by
In a jug band, the washboard can also be stroked with a single whisk broom and functions as the drums for the band, playing only on the back-beat for most songs, a substitute for a snare drum.
In Zydeco bands, the frottoir is usually played with bottle openers, to make a louder sound. It tends to play counter-rhythms to the drummer.
In a four-beat measure, the washboard will stroke on the 2-beat and the 4-beat. Its best sound is achieved using a single steel-wire snare-brush or whisk broom. However, in a jazz setting, the washboard can also be played with thimbles on all fingers, tapping out much more complex rhythms, as in The Washboard Rhythm Kings, a full-sized band, and Newman Taylor Baker.
A frottoir is played with a stroking instrument (usually with spoon handles or a pair of bottle-openers) in each hand. In a 4-beat measure, the frottoir will be stroked 8 to 16 times. It plays more like a
History
The washboard as a percussion instrument ultimately derives from the practice of
The frottoir, also called a
In 2010 Saint Blues Guitar Workshop launched an electric washboard percussion instrument called the Woogie Board.[5]
Notable players
In 1941, Spike Jones, known for playing the drums during the 1930s, started to perform with his washboard which would be his icon for his City Slickers that formed that same year.
In British Columbia, Canada, Tony McBride, known as "Mad Fingers McBride", performs with a group called The Genuine Jug Band. Tony is referred to as "The Canadian Washboard King". His percussion set-up was created by Douglas Fraser, of the same band. The washboard set-up was seen in Modern Drummer magazine, August 2014 edition. Also from Canada, Washboard Hank toured with Fred Eaglesmith.[6]
Musician Steve Katz famously played washboard with the Even Dozen Jug Band. His playing can be heard on the group's legendary self-titled Elektra recording from 1964. Katz reprised his washboard playing on Played a Little Fiddle, a 2007 recording featuring Steve Katz,[6] Stefan Grossman[6] and Danny Kalb.[6] Katz's washboard approach is notable as he plays the instrument horizontally. Additionally, Katz uses fingerpicks instead of thimbles.
In Belgium, Luc Brughmans uses it in te "La planche à jazz" plays horizontally, with attachment to à snare harness.
In their earliest incarnations as The Quarrymen, The Beatles were a skiffle band, featuring Pete Shotton on washboard.
During their early years, Mungo Jerry frequently featured washboard on stage and on record, played by Joe Rush.
Tim "Thumper" Hogan, plays the washboard for the twice Grammy-nominated band, The Muddy Basin Ramblers, based out of Taipei, Taiwan.
Jim "Dandy" Mangrum, lead singer of Southern rock band Black Oak Arkansas, is well known for incorporating the washboard into many of the band's songs, notably "When Electricity Came to Arkansas".
Self-taught Elizabeth Bougerol has made the washboard a key element of The Hot Sardines jazz band.[6]
Cody Dickinson, a member of hill country blues bands the North Mississippi Allstars and Country Hill Revue plays an electrified washboard on a self-written track, "Psychedelic Sex Machine".[6][7] The song is almost entirely centered around the sound of the washboard, captured by a small clip-on microphone. The sound is then sent through a wah-wah and other effects pedals to create a fresher, more innovative and up-to-date sound for the washboard.
Robin Rapuzzi is the washboard player for New Orleans old-time jazz band Tuba Skinny.[8]
English actor Deryck Guyler was well known for his washboard-playing skills.
At least one player has twice appeared at Carnegie Hall.[6]
Meagan Michelle plays the washboard for folk punk group Days N' Daze.
In media
Further reading
- Chronology of the Washboard in Music, by Chuck Wilson
- Hovey, Art (June 30, 2021). "Early History of the Galvanized Jazz Band". Syncopated Times.
References
- ^ "Guiro | ipassio". www.ipassio.com. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
- ^ "History of Washboard Playing | Making and Playing Washboards". Hermanbennett.com. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ Washboard Sam / Robert Brown Retrieved date=12 August 2022
- ^ "Key of Z Rubboards has been making washboards since 1946". Keyofzrubboards. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ Woogie Board Electric Washboard Craziness Retrieved November 2, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g Voss, Gabriel (September 29, 2016). "The Top 5 Washboard players of All Time. Really". WordPress. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
- ^ "Psychedelic Sex Machine" North Mississippi Allstars featuring The City Champs. Live at the Cubby Bear in Chicago Illinois. (February 6, 2010) Cody Dickinson woogie board, Luther Dickinson Guitar, Joe Restivo guitar.
- ^ "Hear Robin Rapuzzi". Retrieved 2022-09-07.
External links
- Cajun Musical Instruments Illustrations
- Mr. Appliance (June 18, 2019). "How to Play the Washboard as a Musical Instrument".