HELP! Playing the jug

Subject: Origins: HELP! Playing the jug
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 09:46 AM

I have two old ceramic vinegar/cider/corn likker jugs at home and was hoping that some of you catter critters could give me some advice on how to play them. One is regular size, about a gallon I'd guess and the other one is BIG, 10 gallons or more (guess). Any help is greatly appreciated. I'd like to bring them to play in my various bands.

Thanks a bunch!

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP! Playing the jug
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 09:54 AM

I've got one or two quart-sized jugs, a two-quart jug and a B-I-G one I can hardly lift! (The little have a deposit of 1/- on them!) Photos I've seen of jug bands usually feature tin jugs, which must be quite a bit lighter. I've never quite matered the art myself, but it's a kind of raspberry -- if you can vary the pitch a bit to do a simple bass accompaniment -- and the jug resonates to boost the sound. I suspect it helps if you empty the jug p[ersonally before playing; at least you won't be so worried about how it sounds!

Steve

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP! Playing the jug
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 09:56 AM

I blow across the opening but find glass/ceramic flagons too heavy for my poor old bones. Gus Cannon seemed to use a galvanised oilcan that was light enough to go on his harmonica rack. In videos I've seen of Mungo Jerry they had one on its own stand like a cymbal stand at the right height for a seated player. Hammie Nixon played a one-gallon jug with Yank Rachell, I would guess anything bigger would be too unwieldy.

RtS

Subject: RE: HELP! Playing the jug
From: MMario
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 10:14 AM

I'm told you blow across the mouth just as one plays a flute; I wouldn't know about the flute. I play a jug the way I play a pop bottle.

Subject: RE: HELP! Playing the jug
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 10:31 AM

I appreciate all of the ideas. It would be helpful to get more.

Subject: RE: HELP! Playing the jug
From: MMario
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 10:34 AM

don't foget tone can be altered by partially filling the jug.

Subject: RE: HELP! Playing the jug
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 10:39 AM

Roger. A friend of mine went to memphis a few years ago, and actually HELD Gus Cannon's old jug. He was in awe.....until the leather strap broke and the jug fell to the ground and ended up with a DENT!

The curator of the museum said "don't worry" but I don't think my friend will ever be the same!

Remember that Fritz Richmond (from the Kweskin band) got a LOT of volume from his lightweight Clorox bottles. So it ain't the weight.

Rick

Subject: RE: HELP! Playing the jug
From: Mark Clark
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 10:43 AM

Roger, Did you see Hammie play? It was wonderful. Forty years ago, I used to see the two of them often along with Sleepy John Estes, Sunnyland Slim and Big Joe Williams. Bob Koester used to run weekly sessions where they all would appear. When Bob got too busy to run them, Mike Bloomfield took over. That really brings back memories. I got to see Yank play again shortly before he died and we had fun recalling those days. I miss those guys.

The jug is played much like a Sousaphone but without a mouthpiece. You purse your lips together and blow through them making a motor sound or, as Steve says, a “rasberry” sound. You don't blow, flute-like, just buzz your lips in the general direction of the mouth of the jug. Don't put your lips directly on the mouth of the jug. You can produce a wide range of notes by varying the lip pressure, just as in playing any brass instrument.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: HELP! Playing the jug
From: GUEST,steve benbows protege
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 10:50 AM

My friend Mac McGann in his days of the Levee Breakers used to use a watering can with a lid on the back (So you lift the flap and then fill the can) Put a tuba mouth piece down spout and then blow as described before. With the watering can if you lift flap it DOES actually change the pitch! Mac taught me the little bit of knowledge it takes to play this thing.

Subject: RE: HELP! Playing the jug
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 11:20 AM

Great ideas! Keep 'em coming!

Subject: RE: HELP! Playing the jug
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 01:07 PM

So I sort of give it the raspberry but I don't put my lips on the jug right? Does it matter how I hold the jug? Tilted, straight or what?

Subject: RE: HELP! Playing the jug
From: Mark Clark
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 01:25 PM

Play around with the position of the jug. You want to find the “sweet spot” that provides the best amplification and resonance. Your ear will tell you where it is.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: HELP! Playing the jug
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 02:12 PM

and empty it now and then

Subject: RE: HELP! Playing the jug
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 02:35 PM

Yes, I was wondering about the 'spit valve'!

Subject: RE: HELP! Playing the jug
From: GUEST,Henry VIII
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 02:50 PM

I've played jug for over 30 years - I'm not too sure about the rasberry thing. I do more of a flute approach. You move it about a bit and slap it in rythm etc And generally enjoy it and clown around. If you're in a jug band work out what you want from it. It's a bit like playing the kazoo where half the time you are actually playing your hands. I have an old couple of gallons at least beast from some long forgotten firm from Glasgow. stoneware - I think that with my back a stand would be handy but it would stop the jigging around.

Subject: RE: HELP! Playing the jug
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 03:27 PM

Henry--that sounds cool! With all of these suggestions, I can hardly wait to get home and clean the jug out and give it a go.

Subject: RE: HELP! Playing the jug
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 03:54 AM

Wish I HAD seen Hammie or Gus play!
I keep looking in hardware stores for a tin/galvanised one like on the Gus Cannon sleeve photos. Herself can't believe I need to empty so many cider flagons searching for the right sound! If I play one that's too heavy for the neck rack I can't play washboard at the same time (Amos would say that would be a good idea!).

RtS
(rattle rattle , buzz buzz, boom boom)

Subject: RE: HELP! Playing the jug
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 07:43 AM

1. Fill jug with beer.
2. Put lips around mouth of jug and raise jug until you taste beer.
3. Start swallowing until thirst is temporarily quenched.
4. If jug becomes empty go to 1.
5. Lower jug for a while and put it on table.
6. When thirst returns go to 2.
7. Eventually - fall asleep.

Seriously - Tim Walker of "The Sadie Green Sales" Ragtime Jug Band, plays a mean jug. They have a site here or you can e-mail them here.

Subject: RE: HELP! Playing the jug
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 11:34 AM

Ahh! I can see we have some very serious 'wacky folkies' here! Feels great to be among yuh!

Subject: RE: HELP! Playing the jug
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 12:17 PM

You can also play a pint pot in a similar fashion by holding your hand across the top of the empty pot and blowing raspberries through the space between your first and second fingers. At least that is what my wife used to do many years ago. Mostly after emptying a few pint pots coming to think of it.
JohnB