HOMEGROWN MUSIC...AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS!

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Some players like to rest that far side of the tub on something like a piece of 2 X 4 to let the sound out. Others prefer to drill a 3/8" hole in the container's side. Most all remove the washtub's handles so they won't rattle in the middle of a hot song.

During your actual strummin', just pull back or let off on the gutbucket's stick with one hand (to change the instrument's tone) while you pluck that single string with the other. And when you're ready to wail, make sure your group tackles a song in which you get to play a solo!

THE WASH BOARD

This one is a natural for all you tabletop drummers. Any of the metal boards will do, but a brass one has the best tone in my opinion (forget glass boards for this use).

If you can't find a good metal washboard around the ole homestead or up in your grandmother's attic, figure on picking one up in a junk shop for $5. When I decided to start playing this instrument I spread the word ... and within months three good boards came at me all at once from three different directions. If everything else fails, you can still get yourself a nice new brass washboard from any one of several mail-order stores that now handle oldtimey items of this nature ... such as Morse Hardware Company, 1025 State St., Bellingham, Wash. 98225.

Then just latch onto some metal thimbles (they come in several sizes), one for each finger, and start to "tap dance" on that ole scrubboard. You may even want to buy a couple of metal guitar thumb picks (or fashion your own from a sheet of light metal) so your thumbs can dance too. I've also seen gloves with thimbles sewed right onto every finger and thumb (the thimbles can be a little looser when you do it this way) which enables anyone who plays more than one instrument to dazzle the audience with a display of quick change artistry.

And if you want to dance and scrub out some rhythm at the same time, just add a dandy neck strap to your board. Cowbells, pans, tops, cymbals, wood blocks, bicycle horns, or what have you can also be attached to a washboard to give it greater versatility. The more different sounds you have to experiment with, the more interesting and fun the instrument is to play. I've even run across one board which sported an old enameled urinal ... so visit the dump with your thimbles on one of these days and conduct some "tune tests" on all that lovely junk out there.

And don't feel (as some players do) that fast ragtime stuff like "Coney Island Washboard" is the only music this instrument should be turned loose on. Scrubboards are great for bluegrass and I love to limber mine up on old rhythm and blues tunes too. Try your board on anything.

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