Washboard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A washboard is a tool designed for hand washing clothing. With mechanized cleaning of clothing becoming more common by the end of the 20th century, the washboard has become better known for its originally subsidiary use as a musical instrument.
The traditional washboard is usually constructed with a rectangular wooden frame in which are mounted a series of ridges for the clothing to be rubbed upon. For 19th century washboards, the ridges were often of wood as well; in the 20th century, ridges of metal became more common. In the late 20th century and early 21st century, ridges of galvanized steel are most common, but some modern boards are made of glass. Washboards with brass ridges are still made, and some who use washboards as musical instruments prefer the sound of the somewhat more expensive brass boards.
Contents |
[edit] The washboard used for laundry
Though the washboard is generally used as a musical instrument or sound-making device, many parts of the world still use them for washing clothes. Clothes are soaked in hot soapy water in a washpot, then squeezed and rubbed against the ridged surface of the washboard to force the cleansing fluid through the cloth to carry away dirt. Then the clothes are rinsed. This is a mechanical equivalent of beating the clothes on rocks, the ancient method, but with less wear on the clothes.
[edit] The washboard as a musical instrument
The washboard and frottoir are used as a percussion instrument, employing the ribbed metal surface of the cleaning device as a rhythm instrument.
As traditionally used in jazz, cajun, skiffle, jug band, and old time music, the washboard remained in its wooden frame and is played primarily by tapping and, but also scraping, the washboard with thimbles. Often the washboard has additional traps, such as a wood block, a cowbell, and even small cymbals.
Conversely, the frottoir dispenses with the frame and consists simply of the metal ribbing hung around the neck. It is played, also with thimbles, but with much more strumming than tapping. The frottoir, also called a Cajun rub-board or Zydeco rub-board, and is a late 20th century invention designed specifically for zydeco music. It was introduced by Clifton "King of Zydeco" Chenier's, and played by his brother, using bottle openers. Chenier is usually credited with the invention.
The frottoir or vest frottoir (from Cajun French "vest to be rubbed") is played as a stroked percussion instrument, often in a band with a drummer, while the washboard generally is a replacement for drums. In Zydeco bands, the frottoir is usually played with bottle openers, to make a louder sound. It tends to play counter-rhythms to the drummer.
In a jug band, the washboard is stroked with a single whisk broom and functions as the drums for the band, playing only on the back-beat for most songs, a substitute for a snare drum. In a four-beat measure, the washboard will stroke on the 2-beat and the 4-beat. Its best sound is achieved using a single steel-wire snare-brush or whisk broom.
However, in a jazz setting, the washboard can also be played with thimbles on all fingers, tapping out much more complex rhythms, as in the Washboard Rhythm Kings, a full-sized band.
Some washboard players may add other small percussion devices to the washboard, such as a cymbal, woodblock, or cowbell, which can periodically be struck to vary the effect.
A frottoir is played with a stroking instrument (usually thimble-gloves or a pair of bottle-openers) in each hand. In a 4-beat measure, the Frottoir will be stroked 8 to 16 times. It plays more like a Latin percussion instrument, rather than as a drum. The rhythms used are often similar to those played on Guiro.
[edit] Quotation
From the 1920s song "Coney Island Washboard":
- The thimbles on her fingers make the noise,
- She plays the Charleston of the laundry for the boys.
- She can rag a tune right through the knees
- Of a brand-new pair of BVD's.
- Coney Island washboard roundelay.
