The only good recording of me playing washboard was made for Japanese TV - we had a film crew come into Sandy Bell's one day looking to film some Scottish culture. They left with enough footage to give the Japanese public the idea that a typical Scottish band lineup was five diatonic moothies, one fiddle, a guitar, and somebody doubling greatbass recorder and washboard. My fingers were dead telegenic. The crew obviously knew exactly what they were doing, were as sensitive to the music as a BBC crew at a major orchestral concert, and I regret that I never managed to see their production.

If you're ever in Edinburgh, look me up. Meanwhile, tune in to "Take the Floor" on Radio Scotland (you can hear it over the web) and listen carefully to what the drummer in those bands is doing. With a bit of practice you can get almost the same rhythms. 2/4 marches are the easiest, jigs are one of the trickier ones (you have to paradiddle between the hands), strathspeys are in between.

In a session or concert setting you have to keep the washboard bits short and telling. Playing for dancing is different. With the contradance band I'd be hammering away for nearly two hours straight. My arms were jelly at the end. A small board and short, fast movements makes it a lot easier.

I'm going to start selling the modified boards I make, you can't buy anything that does exactly the sound I want. (I've heard mine described as "the washboard equivalent of DADGAD").