Washboard
The Washboard is, literally, a clothes-cleaning washboard. As musical instruments, the Washboard and Frottoir employ the ribbed metal surface of the cleaning device as a rhythm instrument.
The washboard is mounted in a wooden frame while the frottoir is made only from the metal ribbing and is hung around the neck and called the Cajun Rub-Board Vest.
The frottoir or vest frottoir (from Cajun French "vest to be rubbed") is played as a stroked percussion instrument, often in a band with a drummer, while the washboard generally is a replacement for drums.
a washboard (left) and a piano player
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.
Some washboard players may add other small percussion devices to the washboard, such as a cymbal, woodblock, or cow bell, which can periodically be struck to vary the effect.
A frottoir is played with a stroking instrument (usually thimble-gloves 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 Latin percussion instrument, rather than as a drum.
Quotation
- The thimbles on her fingers make the noise
- She plays the Charleston of the laundry for the boys
- She can rag a tune right through the knees
- Of a brand-new pair of BVD's
- Coney Island washboard rondelay
- "Coney Island Washboard"
Referenced By
List of musical instruments | List of musical instruments by Hornbostel-Sachs number
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