Washboard players.

Subject: Washboard players.
From: GUEST,dodgyfolk
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 05:58 PM

Hi.
I've just purchased a washboard which I am hoping to play in the English Ceilidh band I play drums in.
I am looking for inspiration so can anyone suggest any good players / CDs to listen to?

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: DoctorJug
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 06:13 PM

Washboard Sam.
Geoff Smith, with the Hot Pot Belly Band, Leeds, and with the Ugly Mug Jug Band, Huddersfield area.
Gordon the Washboard Player.
Hear the old Memphis Jug Band sides.

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: Sorcha
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 06:16 PM

Or a Cajun group

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 06:19 PM

Have you got the thimbles as well as the washboard?

Kitty

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 06:36 PM

Any oldtime stringband. Just play along. (I used the Volo Bogtrotters and the Highwoods Stringband).

Never mind if there is no washboard to hear-- take it!

~S~

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: GUEST,Mike Miller
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 09:26 PM

I would reccomend listening to The Sadie Green Sales Ragtime Jug Band. David Driscol is the most exciting washboard player I have played with and I used to jam with Washboard Slim, himself. Sadies CD's are available on Amazon and from their website. Susan knows David weel. I think they live in the same small Pennsylvania town.

                         Mike

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 10:56 PM

Washboard Chaz from the Ophelia Swing Band(Boulder, CO, USA-from the late 70's) which featured Tim O'Brien and Dan Sadowsky. Chaz is active as I saw him on a news feature about New Orleans a few months ago. He may have a website.

Jeff Hanna from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is a phenomenal washboard player. As well as every other instrument he puts his hands on. I've a high regard for Mr. Hanna. Very overlooked and underrated player/singer. Seems to me he made a washboard instructional video awhile back.

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 11:10 PM

The washboard is just the beginning. Let your imagination go wild in adding cowbells, pots & pans, cans, wood blocks, etc. to add variety to your rig.

"Scratchy" Ron Goad plays washboard in my band. The All New Genetically Altered Jug Band.

You can hear some fine rubbing here:

http://www.myspace.com/ANGAJB
and here:
http://www.geocities.com/ANGAJB

Historically look for recording from Washboard Sam, the Washboard Rhythm Kings, The Washboard Wonders, and many of the old jug bands.

Gutbucketeer

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: melodeonboy
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 06:36 AM

I'm no expert on washboard players, but I reckon it's worth listening to the washboard player who plays with the Refried Ginger Jug Band; he's shit hot.

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: Leadfingers
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 06:50 AM

Beryl Bryden was washboard with the Chris Barber band that launched Lonnie Donegan ! An d Deryck Guyler apart from being a VERY good actor was a brilliant washboard man !!

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 09:38 AM

...Leadfingers beat me to it (BB & DG), there are quite a few out there on old jug band/skiffle group records: "Sticky" Wicket formerly with Chris Barber and now often with the Donegan sons' band, our own Lutz Eikelmann in Germany to name but two, and Rob Townsend with the BLues Band when they go acoustic.

RtS
(alias Thimbles O'Hooligan, the Washboard of Mass Destruction)

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 10:25 AM

wALNUT SHELLS GLUED ONTO WHITE WORK GLOVES (damn capslock!) gives a good effect also.

~S~

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: DoctorJug
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 10:51 AM

Also try a child's pan set and a really crappy little cymbal bolted to your washboard. Great fun.

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: Splott Man
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 11:57 AM

Mal Dann from the comedy jug bands Cocky and then Brownsville Banned was pretty good too. Vinyl LPs available in the dim distant past.

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 12:04 PM

Get hold of the Jim Kweskin Jug Band's first record. Geoff Mudaur plays some fantastic washboard, as well as being my favourite blues singer.

Check out Washboard Hank from peterborough, Ontario. He used to play with Fred J. Eaglesmith and is on some of his records, but he has records of his own. Washboard Boogie is a good tune. Google "Washboard Hank" on images to get a look at his rig. He also plays a Falopian Tuba made of PVC pipe and a kitchen sink. He calls it Canada's indiginous musical instrument.

Also check out Teilhard Frost of Flapjack (I hope I spelled your name correctly Teilhard) He uses the wallnut shells suggested by WYSIWYG a few posts back.

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: dwditty
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 12:12 PM

http://www.washboardslim.com/

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: Mr Yellow
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 01:31 PM

If you are in the Knighton area Chris (Yorkie) Bartram runs a session in Middletown nr Welshpool and he plays a cajun washboard. He is a very helpful guy.

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: Brass Monkey
Date: 03 Sep 06 - 09:39 AM

So what is the difference between a 'cajun washboard' and other washboards? Why use a frattoire (sp?) when you can use a washboard?

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 03 Sep 06 - 01:01 PM

a Cajun "rub board" doesn't have the wooden frame and has shoulder brackets to hold the rub board. It's usually played with two church keys or spoons instead of thimbles.

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: GUEST,Auldtimer
Date: 03 Sep 06 - 02:46 PM

Church Keys!! Do you mean Church keys as in keys for a churche or is this slang for something ?

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: GUEST,Padre- temporarily w/o whatever it is
Date: 03 Sep 06 - 04:17 PM

'Church Key' is slang for a beer can opener

Padre

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: GUEST,Jack Campin
Date: 03 Sep 06 - 04:40 PM

I have only a vague memory of what Lonnie Donegan used to do with it. I use a washboard as a portable danceband drumkit, using the same rhythms as Scottish pipe band or ceilidh band drummers. To get this effect:

- hold the washboard fore-and-aft, along your thigh and held down by your chin. Beryl Bryden is the only other player I know of who used this position.

- hit it from both sides with five thimbles on each hand. For the thumbs I use the plastic "thumbles" sold for quilting - no shop seems to have these any more but you can still buy them mail order.

- use a technique like a five-string banjo - the thumb usually hits the wooden plate on the downbeats, the fingers do the tricky rolls, triplets and paradiddles.

- *don't* add extra noisemakers to it. It's much more effective to play *really fast*, like a tabla player, and you can't do that if you're moving your hands large distances to reach something hanging off the side.

- modify the board. The metal plate must rattle freely to get a good volume, so make sure there's room in the slot for it to do that. You will usually need to take the board apart and rebuild it to get a decent sound. I just take half the plate and build a light plywood frame around it to get a better wooden thwack.

- if the metal rattles freely enough, you can vary the tone by pressing lightly in one side to damp the plate while scraping with the other. (Compare what bodhran players usually do with their left hand).

- for the Scottish music I mostly play, it helps to think of a tune as having a fixed percussion part (like the way pipe bands arrange their material). Most of the time you will be improvising, but when a tune repeats a 4- or 8-bar section, repeat the rhythm you did for it. And make damn sure every section gets a different beating.

- know the tunes. Some tunes call for specific tricks. I rarely do a washboard part for a tune I can't play on the recorder.

- if you're a woodwind player you're *way* ahead of the game since most of the actions are the same, moving your fingers up and down as they traverse the plate.

- eggwhisks work as "brushes" when playing slower tunes, like waltzes, where the percussion part needs to be less assertive.

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Sep 06 - 06:52 PM

Hi
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!
You have all been most helpful. I had my first sessions and then gig with the washboard this week and it seems to have gone down well.
JACK CAMPION, do you have any recordings of you playing with your band? We sometimes do Scottish tunes (we are basically an English band) and it would be great to hear your ideas in practise.

Cheers

GLYN

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: GUEST,Jack Campin
Date: 03 Sep 06 - 07:30 PM

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").

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 03 Sep 06 - 07:39 PM

I play various percussion, and was keen to get a washboard, but not to pay the £45 or so that they charge for the newly manufactured ones (never been anywhere near a load of washing!) I was lucky enough to get one in an antique shop in the Scottish Borders the other week for a mere £5 (didn't even try to beat the man down at that price!) it's metal one side, glass the other, and if anything, I prefer the glass side sound as it's crisper. I got thimbles in John Lewis in Edinburgh (metal or nothing) - £1.50.p each, so I bought enough for 3 fingers of each hand - so thimbles cost more than the washboard!
I did see a "skiffle band" the other year, where the washboard player used a guitar slide in one hand and a plectrum in the other: sorry, but it just didn't work!

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Sep 06 - 06:07 PM

In response to JACK CAMPION,
Cheers again for your information. I would agree that playing for dancing is very different than session playing. On the washboard I have been trying to follow the rule of accenting the lift of the dancers foot. And, as luck would have it, my washboard is small so it's lighter to hold and move around with.

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 06 Sep 06 - 06:44 PM

Well I've just had a grand night, with my Tea Chest Bass and occasional washboard.
I play a "real" washboard, zinc and well used. The pitch is perfect. I have yet to see a washboard for sale that has close enough pitch. The modern "copies" go "ratta ta ta" not "Brrrrr".
Cajun Washboards are a different instrument to a true washboard. Typically American, all show and fuss but no depth. I have augmented my board with a few well chosen extras and it's a fun instrument.
Like all percussion instruments on the folk scene, little and subtle is the key to acceptance, loud bodhran, loud bones, loud washboard or even loud saw, are not good. But sensitively handled they can enliven an evening
I rest my case.

Ni Ni,

Andy

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: GUEST,Jack Campin
Date: 06 Sep 06 - 07:41 PM

A note about thimbles: there are two types available in the UK. The commonest in recent years seems to be moulded with a recess in the tip - these are too heavy and fly across the room when you play with any force. The better type are pressed steel with a convex tip - they're lighter and stay on your fingers better.

Micropore tape round the inside of the thimble helps it stay on your finger. So does rust.

Since "thumbles" are so hard to get now, I've been thinking about moulding thimbles directly onto my thumbs using repair-kit fibreglass (and clingfilm to stop it sticking).

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 11:23 AM

Check out http://www.melmusic.com/washboardhank/

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: GUEST,Rev
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 01:58 PM

I play with a washboard player named Alan Kirk, who uses a whiskbroom more often than thimbles. It's like using brushes on a snare drum instead of sticks–a quieter more subtle sound.

Also check out Wammo from the Asylum Street Spankers, a Texas band.

Rev

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 02:12 PM

I agree that Geoff Muldaur played incredible washboard with the Jim Kweskin Jug Band.
He has a website from which you can contact him: www.geoffmuldaur.com

Elmer

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 03:30 PM

Re Guest Jack Campin
There is another more insidious thimble to be found in the better class establishment....
I once went into a haberdasher's shop and politely asked for thimbles.
The elderly assistant asked , even more politely if I required "gentlemen's or Ladies, sir?"
When I assured him of my manly aspirations he produced strange thimble shaped objects - with no ends!!!! Apparently gentlemen use the side of the finger so they dont need ends...
When I explained my needs more fully the reply was a rather pained " Oh sir!!"
His rather small stock of ladies thimbles were far to small, or should I say petite, for my short fat fingers.

Brrrrr ratta tatta tock tock ting to you all.

Andy

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: DoctorJug
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 03:09 AM

"What time does the band finish?"
"About half a bar after the washboard player."

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 07:17 AM

LOL Andy!!
I also wondered if using rubber finger cots inside the thimbles would help them to stay on! (my medical mind working overtime!!) (Previously unused ones, of course!)

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: oggie
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 05:24 PM

'Know the tunes' to quote Jeff Campin is the best advice anyone can give to any percussionist (or guitarist). How many times have you been to a session where either the bodhran player plays the same pattern to every jig or reel or a guitar player mumbles 'what key's it in?' and sets up a totally inapropriate backing?

All the best

Steve

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: Cluin
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 01:45 PM

Washboard Hank, a great entertainer. Must be seen and heard to be believed.

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: Ernest
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 02:38 PM

...and here`s the website of

http://www.washboardchaz.com/

mentioned above. I saw him when I was in N.O. (thanks to PoppaGator for the recommendation), he is well worth seeing/hearing.

I bought a little washboard tie down there - quite fun and always an eyecatcher in sessions.

Playing it sparsely to tunes where it fits (and know them) is a good advice.

Best
Ernest

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: greg stephens
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 03:17 PM

Mel(don't know surname) is the wonderful washboard player with the very wonderful Manchester-based Biggles Wartime band. He plays the thimbles style, with a lot of wood-blocks, cowbells etc as well.
A very good cajun/creole/zydeco player is JC Gallow(deputy sherrif of Mamou LA among other things), ex-Lawtell Playboys and many other Creole combinations.He plays the vest-style frottoir. He recorded two albums with England's Boat Band, available as a double CD on Harbourtown "Back Deck Blues".

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 04:53 AM

My local music shop is advertising:

Washboard   £76
including thin-
bles

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: Metchosin
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 05:27 AM

My favourite is Washboard Breezy from Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band. Got to see them live last weekend and boy does Breezey smoke. In fact the whole damn band smokes.

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: BanjoRay
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 05:34 AM

Don't buy your first washboard and immediately take it to a session and beat the hell out of it. Less than brilliant percussion will wreck any session, and possibly lead to a lynching. Like any musical instrument, it takes a lot of skill to play it tastefully and effectively, in a way that enhances the music without interfering with the way the melodic instrument players can hear each other. You can only learn that skill by doing it alone or with a teacher for a long time.
The hardest part of playing any instrument properly is the rhythm hand - the one holding the plectrum or the bow or the fingerpicks. The washboard has two rhythm hands which makes it twice as hard.
Ray

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: GUEST,a Geezer
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 11:59 AM

If you have trouble keeping the thimbles on, try some of the tacky stuff made for holding posters on a wall. (It's sort of like silly putty.) A little goes a long way.
I like to change up the rhythm all the time, and use a variety of objects. Try various implements right out of your kitchen drawers. They can be fun & sound great! Some favs: wooden spoons, wire whisks, egg beaters, mesh strainers, old metal cookie cutters--experiment with all edges of the implememts.
I also have a set of finger picks for each hand which I got for my Autoharp. They are brass, and designed to be used to strum Autoharp in both directions, forward as well as backward. You just need to experiment to find what you like the best.
I suggest that you get a tape recorder & record yourself playing along with your fav cd's so you'll know how it sounds. It always sounds different when you're listening, than when you're playing.

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: GUEST,Mark Peers
Date: 16 Oct 11 - 07:51 AM

I have played the washboard since the mid 60's and used different sized thimbles for each finger which kept them from falling off. I sometimes used tape inside the thimbles to protect the fingers.

I still have a collection of different types of washboards and have 'scraped' holes through quite a number of ones over the years through my time in the following semi-pro bands from Leeds.

1966-1967 The Peers Family Jug Band (John Wall on Guitar, Kazoo - Jim Peers on Jug and Mark Peers on Washboard)

1967-1972 The Jug & Bottle Washers Jug Band (also known as The JBW Jug Band)This band was the above line up from the Peers Family Jug Band plus Jon Rennard on Guitar,kazoo, Ukulele,& vocals

The band was a regular booked guest at most of the folk clubs and folk festivals in the north of England and played a mixture of traditional jug band, jazz and comedy numbers. the band also played several times at big concerts at the Leeds University on the same bill as The Who, Johnny Kid & the Pirates, Kenny Ball, Aker Bilk etc. The band made a tour of Ireland as a support act for Johnny McEvoy and was featured on Radio Leeds. Various musicians have 'sat in' with the band including the late great Diz Disley.

1972-1977 Count Orlando's Spasm Circus. This was the same line up as the above JBW band with Bob Clark on Guitar, Kazoo, vocals & Spasmaphone replacing Jon Rennard (who tragically died in 1972) and plus Paul Oldroyd on Guitar and vocals and occassionally Ken Butler on Guitar & vocals

1980-1992 The KC Moaners Jug Band. The above line with Dave Cromack on Guitar & vocals replacing Bob Clark. Later Alan Dailey on National Guitar joined the band and John Peers on Tea Chest Base replaced Jim Peers on Jug.

This band also played the folk clubs & festivals around the North of England made a tour of Germany.

1992-1999 The KC Moaners Skiffle Band. Line up same as above but later Kath Stewart replacing John Peers on Tea Chest Bass and Jenny Dailey substituting on Washboard for Mark Peers when the band went full pro for a spell.

The band played pubs & clubs and did a summer season in Scarborough and twice played in New Orleans. It was featured in a BBC Radio 2 programme on Skiffle with Joe Brown. Chas McDevitt appeared with the band on several occassions.

At one time I was the only 'washboard player' in the Musicians Union. I have also played the washboard with the Dennis Armstrong Hot Five and played washboard on the signature tune of the "Rag Dolly Anna" childrfens series for Yorkshire TV I have also guested with the Hot Pot Belly Band from Leeds.

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 24 Oct 11 - 07:39 AM

There was a washboard workshop at the recent Selkirk Sessions weekend: great fun, but not a good idea for all those who learned to head for the same session afterwards!

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: Tigger the Tiger
Date: 24 Oct 11 - 07:47 AM

I am happy to see so many people still playing.

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: Hokumsheik
Date: 24 Oct 11 - 10:18 AM

Tired of flying thimbles just as the band starts jumpin' ?
Go to your local butcher & order a butchers chain mail glove.
There are 2 versions I know of
1) Thumb & 2 fingers
2) full hand

Hope this helps,
(after all the original question is 5 years old ! LOL)
Mox Hokumsheik

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: Will Fly
Date: 24 Oct 11 - 11:05 AM

Talking of washboard players, does anyone who was in London in the 60s and 70s remember a washboard player called Mick Sutton? He sat in with our band from time to time and was a superb player. Mick was the grandson or great-nephew (can't remember which) of the music-hall star Randolph Sutton, and was - for most of the time that I knew him - pretty cool from the quantities of pot he'd absorbed over the years.

Sadly, Mick was run over and killed sometime in the late 70s.

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: Bettynh
Date: 24 Oct 11 - 12:17 PM

This thread sent me off to rummage around youtube for fun links. Here are some:


Washboard variety in Seattle

and Japan (there are about 20 of these, including a 6-footer)


This looks like a useful lesson (there are more videos of this session)

This guy uses socket wrenches rather than thimbles (useful since they can be had in very specific sizes and lengths)

spoons

various kitchen implements

1958 Russsian skiffle - washboard on the knees

Same technique, currently in Prague (lots of videos of this band, search "Prague Bridge")

David Holt has fun with it

Michael Doucet and Angela Lloyd have fun

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Jul 12 - 12:14 PM

LIsten to Tony Quinn - The New Washboard Syncopators from West Midlands UK. www.thenewwashboardsyncopators.co.uk

Subject: RE: Washboard players.
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jan 17 - 05:00 AM

I am still playing washboard/percussion but have moved to Cornwall. The New Washboard Syncopators are no longer in existence as a regular band but, of course, there are several youtube recordings still available. I occasionally use the NWS name for pick up bands I assemble. I am available for gigs in Devon/Cornwall and also looking to playing with Cajun/Zydeco bands as I play the Cajun Washboard. email - [e-mail]

Keep on jazzin'
Tony Quinn