Diddley Bow

The diddley bow may have been the first instrument that produced  the sound of sliding rhythm and the whines and cries of a single string that later became the distinctive sound known today as the "Blues". It was common to the rural south in the 1800's and was made by taking a piece of broom or cotton wire and stretching it between two nails tied to the side of a wooden frame house, with a bottle or "snuff can" wedged under the wire to create tension for pitch. The string was plucked while sliding a piece of metal or glass on it to produce notes. The "diddley bow"  is similiar to an African one-string instrument that was called an "Umakweyana."

Here is a couple of pictures showing Louis Dotson playing one on the side of his house

Here is a picture of one (minus the house) that my good friend and guitar luthier Scott MacDonald built for me.

If you're thinking that this was built with a 2X4, well, you're right. When I was over at Scott's shop having some work done on my guitar I asked him if he could build me a Diddley Bow. It so happened that on that very day Scott had some furniture delivered and the packing crate was still in his driveway. This piece of wood was from that very crate.

It's tuned by a cello peg at the top. Ok, so maybe Louis didn't have this, but you'll soon see a few other 'modern' modifications.

That Maple leaf bottlecap is actually an electric pickup glued to the wood, connected by a jack by which I run a cable up to an amplifier. The bridge, by which the string is set upon was actually a piece of wood from the furniture that was delivered that day.

Finally, here's a picture of me playing the Diddley Bow at the Warwick Winery Blues Festival. It fits real nice on my lap and I figure it as easier than bringing a whole house along with me.