HOMEGROWN MUSIC...AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS!

Enlarge Image Image Gallery Marc Bristol and other Washington State grassroots musicians wail away on a gutbucket, washboard, jug, and axe. Axe? ""Actually, "" says Marc, ""the axe, in this instance, is just a gag ... although I think it'd make a pretty good percussion instrument!"" Inset photo shows detail of lower end of gutbucket stick. Note notch and bevel.

Article Tools

Image Gallery

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

Even homesteaders need to relax and enjoy themselves from time to time, right? And almost everybody these days wants to cut his or her cost of living. So how about a little doit-yourself entertainment?

And that's what this column is all about. Down-home music that you can make ... and the instruments (which, in some cases, you can also make!) to play that music on.

We may also publish some songs, discuss music as a potential home business, run discographies, bibliographies, and/or include whatever other do-it-yourself music topics you'd like to see.

The important thing is that this is a test column. If you like it, write to me and let me know. If you have some ideas for this feature, let me know that. I'm open to any suggestions or information you care to contribute. I'll even try to answer your questions about down-home music ... but-both for the benefit of all MOTHER's readers and to ease my correspondence load?I'll deal with those questions, whenever possible, here in this column ... rather than in personal letters.

Address your correspondence?for this column and this column only-to Marc Bristol, 31722 N.E. 180th Place, Duvall, Wash. 98019.

One way to save money and have a good time all at once is by making your own music-and your own musical instruments?at home. Here are a few ideas for doing just that without spending a lot of cash ... or even going down to the local music store!

THE GUTBUCKET

Any homemade music-whether hammered out on the piano, guitar, banjo, fiddle, or whatever?becomes more interesting and more fun for everyone involved as more and more instruments are added to the festivities. Especially if those instruments contribute some tonal and rhythmic coloring of their own. And one of the most basic of all the additions you can make to any "pickin' and grinnin' " group is the down-home washtub bass, or "gutbucket". Although the instrument's strong suit is solid rhythmic accompaniment, it can produce true notes (much to the amazement of electric bass players!) and has a range of about an octave and a half.

Start this construction project by scrounging up a No. 1 or No. 2 washtub or similar large metal container. Don't settle for one with its bottom rusted out because, for this purpose, that bottom has to be strong. Buy a new tub if you have to (and it won't break you, since a new No. 1 washtub costs only about $15).

The neck for your gutbucket should be approximately 4-1/2 feet long and can be anything from a whittled-down hardwood sapling to an old rake handle or even a piece of steel conduit that is attached to the tub with a strap hinge. Closet hanger dowel (1-1/4")?or an old oar--works real well. The stronger the neck of your instrument, the better . . . since lighter ones tend to absorb string vibration and dampen a gutbucket's sound.

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print