Vintage washboards for music

Washboards are a unique and versatile percussion instrument traditionally used in folk, blues, jug bands and Zydeco music. From its humble origins as a laundry tool, washboards have become a popular rhythm instrument due to their distinctive scraping sound and affordability.

History of washboards in music

Washboards were originally common household items used for scrubbing clothes. Musicians, particularly in the rural United States, began using them as makeshift instruments in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Washboards gained prominence in early blues and jug band music, especially during the 1920s and 30s. Their portable and accessible nature made them ideal for informal gatherings and street performances.

In Louisiana, washboards became a cornerstone of Zydeco, a musical genre rooted in Creole and Cajun traditions. Zydeco musicians often used a modified washboard called a frottoir, worn over the chest and played with spoons or thimbles.

How to play your washboard

Scraping: Players scrape the metal ridges with various objects such as spoons, thimbles, brushes or fingernails.

Tapping and Striking: Additional rhythms can be created by tapping or striking the frame or ridges.

Worn or Handheld: Traditional washboards are handheld. Zydeco players often wear a frottoir, a vest-like washboard, for easier movement and performance.

Construction of washboards

Most washboards for music are made with a ribbed metal surface, though vintage models may have glass or wood ridges. Frames are typically wood, offering stability and an additional surface for rhythm. Modern washboards made to be used as a percussion instrument often include attached cymbals, bells, or other percussion elements to add variety to the rythms.

Notable washboard musicians

Washboard Sam: A key figure in early blues, known for his skillful washboard playing.

The Carter Family: Featured washboards in their early recordings of folk and country music.

Deryck Guyler: British actor who had been a devotee of washboard playing since his school days and appeared in many television light entertainment shows performing his washboard.

Clifton Chenier: A Zydeco legend who invented and popularised the frottoir.

Why use a washboard in music?

The metallic scraping sound adds a unique texture to musical compositions. Washboards are inexpensive compared to other percussion instruments and have the added advantage of being very portable and lightweight.

Whether as a nostalgic nod to traditional music or a creative percussion instrument, the washboard continues to find a place in contemporary performances.