Washboard

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It is likely that some of the first people to use the washboard as a musical instrument were enslaved African-Americans in the U.S. The instrument later became popularized in the 1920s, along with the Jug Bands of the time. Players typically put thimbles on their fingers and then tap and/or scratch the ribbed metal surface of the washboard to create rhythms. It is common for washboard players to attach various bells & whistles to the washboard for colorful percussive accents.

How to Obtain

Any old washboard will do! You can probably find one for $10-$20 at your local antique store. While you are there, look for thimbles (which can be surprisingly difficult to find). Some players use electrical tape to attach the thimbles to their fingers. Others achieve a softer sound by sewing buttons onto the fingertips of gloves and playing with those.

How to Learn

I recommend that you start with tapping. If you can tap a beat, you can play it on the washboard! Experiment with different ways of tapping the washboard to incorporate louder or softer sounds into your patterns. Once you get comfortable with that, start to add scratches into your patterns.

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