While I understand a diddley bow to be a one-string instrument, I'm surprised at the number of two- and more-stringed instruments described as diddley bows. I myself even built what I described as a "two-string diddley bass." And I've seen the like of KM Williams playing what appears to be a diddley bow- like instrument with two strings tuned to octaves.

So, I ask you...what defines a diddley bow? And if a diddley bow is a one-string instrument? And if so, what are the other multi-stringed instruments called?

Views: 458

Attachments:

Replies to This Discussion

I love questions without answers haha I'll use terms like "diddley box", "d/bow", " ", etc etc but only to avoid inadvertantly offending anyone. Interestingly though, no-one seems to get offended or upset by "not quite so accurate" use of the term diddley bow. As a general rule of thumb, I tend to use the term "d-box" when decribing my 1 string cbg's and "d-bow" when the main structure be plank. As far as number of strings goes...."x string diddley bow" usually suffices.
Also take into account that 90% of folks haven't heard of them or seen one, so you can call it what you want!?!
I was looking for a definition too when i was preparing my article on "Diddly Bo's. None was forth coming, and perhaps in line with the "No rules" philosophy of our hobby i was not surprised.
In the article (Wot no articles) I traced the historic origin from the mono-chord (one string "scientific" instrument used for teaching music theory). through anthropological instruments and then to the rustic instruments of the African slaves.
The interesting thing is that there was quite a lot of Mono-chords that had two strings.
I would go with one or two strings as part of any definition that might emerge from this discussion.

It would be nice for a musicologist person to have terms like Jawbone uses defined, but they never will because that is what we are!

I have some difficulties with a beautifully made CBG with one string (or two) being called a Diddly Bo. I think they should be a plank, couple of nails, a bottle and a tin or a box. Follow the tradition.
Maybe we could also take into account how it's played? eg; you'd never fret a diddly bow, would you?
I personally regard them as more of a percussion instrument than a guitar and although I do occasionally pick and strum my bows, I mostly "bang 'n' slide. Uh-oh, I better disembark the "Off the Topic Express" before it goes too far.

In the end I think that the term diddly bow can be used for an instrument that encompasses the SPIRIT of the primal, lo-fi, no-frills, back to the root of the music that is the diddly bow.

"You wanna REALLY play guitar? You don't need to spend no money!"






Brian Lemin said:
I was looking for a definition too when i was preparing my article on "Diddly Bo's. None was forth coming, and perhaps in line with the "No rules" philosophy of our hobby i was not surprised.
In the article (Wot no articles) I traced the historic origin from the mono-chord (one string "scientific" instrument used for teaching music theory). through anthropological instruments and then to the rustic instruments of the African slaves.
The interesting thing is that there was quite a lot of Mono-chords that had two strings.
I would go with one or two strings as part of any definition that might emerge from this discussion.

It would be nice for a musicologist person to have terms like Jawbone uses defined, but they never will because that is what we are!

I have some difficulties with a beautifully made CBG with one string (or two) being called a Diddly Bo. I think they should be a plank, couple of nails, a bottle and a tin or a box. Follow the tradition.
Hi Kevin-

I tend to think of the diddley bow as a primitive, single-stringed instrument (a monocord zither). I differentiate it from a washtub bass (a modern derivative of an African ground bass) in that the tension on the diddley bow string is maintained constant and the pitch is changed by changing the length of the vibrating string with a slide.

My response to the question of whether a diddley bow can have more than one string is by asking another (rhetorical) question--how (that is, using what method) are the two (or more) strings tuned in relation to one another?

For the primitive, traditional diddley bow, the string is brought to tension by putting two objects under the string and sliding them towards each end-stop--except for string length and wire gauge, you do not have much control over the pitch the diddley bow is tuned to. Trying to get two strings tuned to the same pitch, or to some specific relative pitch interval, using this method would be pretty tough. This is especially difficult if both strings were to be noted with a slide at the same time (implying the string length for both strings would need to be the same).

Most instruments with more than one string use tuning machines or pegs to achieve the appropriate pitch (although using a screw to fine-tune the pitch by adjusting the tension is possible). I tend to think of these as something significantly more sophisticated than a diddley bow, and I personally would not use the word "diddley bow" to describe them.

We seem to use the term "cigar box guitar" for an instrument with a cigar box body that has between two and six (or more) strings, and is held and played like a guitar. Doc Oakroot calls his two string cigar box banjo (one drone string and one noted string) a "diddley-jo." Perhaps a plank-type instrument with more than one string should be called a "plank lap-steel" to differentiate it from a single stringed instrument.

But that's just my opinion.

Best regards, Willie

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Discussion Forum

Let’s talk Dorian… for Diddley bow’s in G & D

Started by BrianQ.. Last reply by Cliff Whitefoot Mar 30, 2022. 1 Reply

Finger stretching exercise - Diddley Bow

Started by BrianQ.. Last reply by BrianQ. Mar 12, 2022. 2 Replies

One String Wonder

Started by BrianQ. Jan 29, 2021. 0 Replies

Bridges

Started by Ken Thompson Nov 27, 2020. 0 Replies

Diddley Bow Tabs #5

Started by BrianQ. Apr 22, 2019. 0 Replies

Diddley Bow Tabs #4

Started by BrianQ. Jan 25, 2019. 0 Replies

Diddley Bow Tabs #3

Started by BrianQ. Nov 28, 2018. 0 Replies

1 String Tab

Started by BrianQ.. Last reply by BrianQ. Nov 15, 2018. 1 Reply

Diddley Bow Tabs #2

Started by BrianQ. Nov 8, 2018. 0 Replies

Diddley Bow Tabs

Started by BrianQ. Nov 4, 2018. 0 Replies

Dead Flowers Diatonic Tab for Rolling Stones fans

Started by Jeff Powers. Last reply by Jeff Powers Oct 5, 2017. 2 Replies

Cookie Tin Diddley Bow

Started by Jeffrey Greene May 12, 2017. 0 Replies

First stringed instrument build!

Started by Bob. Last reply by Bob Apr 30, 2017. 3 Replies

My first Diddley-Bow!

Started by Boris Timofeenko. Last reply by Dano Schultz Apr 23, 2017. 2 Replies

String For My First Diddley Bow

Started by Jeffrey Greene Apr 11, 2017. 0 Replies

Showing off my first Diddley Bow.

Started by Andrew Cooper. Last reply by Andrew Cooper Mar 11, 2017. 2 Replies

Harmonica tab to Diddley bow/Canjo

Started by James Conder. Last reply by Gordon Cooper Dec 6, 2016. 1 Reply

My double stringer

Started by Craig Simpson Nov 14, 2016. 0 Replies

Latest Activity

A.D.EKER commented on Dar Stellabotta's video
Thumbnail

A Cigar Box Guitar Six Stringer Built by Louie Lamanna

"i See Your ready to Blow away the GRAND STADIUM ! tree strings more of DAR DELIGHT !! Shine Girl !…"
6 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Thank you for the kind comments Doug! Glad you liked the Picture !"
6 hours ago
BrianQ. commented on Dar Stellabotta's video
11 hours ago
BrianQ. liked Dar Stellabotta's video
11 hours ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Project Punch!

" Thank ya again Keith!"
13 hours ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Punch Project!

" Thank Ya Keith!"
13 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on AGP #'s photo
Thumbnail

AGP #527 - ''Led-Zep 2''

"This build really strung you along Alan! Reminded me of all my fishing line experiments; a lot of…"
15 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Diggin’ the slow blues. I like that last pic Andries! Look at all those cool guitars. Yeah!!!"
15 hours ago
Dar Stellabotta posted a video

A Cigar Box Guitar Six Stringer Built by Louie Lamanna

This video is the unboxing and the demonstration of a beautiful, six stringer built by Louie Lamanna. Join Louie and I June 15 at the second annual Pittsburg...
16 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter to you too Andries! The passion is definitely in full swing. Turns out I’m…"
17 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter Doug ! the Passion is in full swing !"
17 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Ricky D's photo
17 hours ago

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->