Musical instruments

Being from North Carolina, with roots in Georgia (and I don’t know where else), I have been associated with many musical instruments. Being a preachers son from a fundamental back ground we had music in our churches. Most had bands as I have mentioned.

I have seen all kinds of guitars, the one I loved to hear, I called the Hawaiian Guitar. I have known mountaineers with homemade fiddles and banjos. Once I saw a Uke or mandolin, made from a cigar box. I have seen and played the spoons. One band had a wash tub bass fiddle. Also I was amazed at the sounds coming from a ‘rub board’.

In Jamaica I saw steel drums made from 55 gal oil drums.  They were hammered into different shapes for the different sounds. Fiddles were very interesting to me. Also the harmonica, As a kid, I was amazed at the men who played the guitar and had a holder for the harmonica (mouth harp) and played them both at once. Mountaineers can make some neat flutes.

(Above is an antique Jew’s harp)

The one I always called the Juice Harp is really a Jew’s Harp. (my hearing has always been bad, LOL). The first time I tried to play one of those I thought I had knocked my front teeth out. I learned better real quick.

(This is the modern Jew’s or Juice Harp)

But do you know of the dulcimer?  I am sure I had seen one, but I kept hearing folks say, “You should hear the hammered dulcimer!”

Well in my mind I could see a metal dulcimer that had been hammered into shape by a musical artist; that was a fallacy on my part. I learned it was a hammered instrument because of how it was played (not made), It is played with little wooden mallets, like the xylophone. We once camped in the Shenandoah's  beside a man who made them by hand. He would sit in the evenings and play one. Music goes well with camping.

I only play the trumpet and radio!

Thanks for coming this way.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Let me tell you about my doctor:

I remember one time I told my doctor I had a ringing in my ears. His advice: "Don't answer it."

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My doctor sure has his share of nut cases. One said to him, "Doctor, I think I'm a bell." The doctor gave him some pills and said, "Here, take these - If they don't work, give me a ring."

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Remember when Amoco was the only white gas (unleaded) around?

You might have seen this 1934 Studebaker Dictator at that station.(Those suicide doors were logical for debarking, but not underway!)