Compared to guitars and other musical instruments, the one-string diddley bow seems almost obsolete. Yet it may still be worth checking out. After all, examples of the monochord, meaning literally one string, can be found all over the world.
Dan Bau and Duxianqin, Monochords From Vietnam and China
The dan bau is a monochord often heard in the traditional music of Vietnam. The duxianqin, or yixianqin, from China is a close relative. These instruments look similar to the diddley bow, but were originally made using bamboo, a wooden stick, silk thread, and a coconut resonator. More modern versions of the dan bau are constructed with a wooden sound box and a steel string.
To play the dan bau or duxianqin, Vietnamese musicians tap the string with their right pinky while plucking with a plectrum held in their left hand. They either bend the bamboo neck toward themselves or away from themselves to change its pitch.
The Ektara, a One-String Musical Instrument From India
Another monochord, or one-string musical instrument, originates from India and is known as the ektara. This instrument also makes use of a gourd or coconut shell resonator and single string, but in this case, the bamboo neck is split. Squeezing the two halves of the neck together slackens the string and lowers the pitch. Ektara are made in three sizes, soprano, tenor, and bass.
The Ichigenkin, a One-String Musical Instrument From Japan
The ichigenkin means “one string” in Japanese. This instrument looks very much like a diddley bow but employs a silk thread instead of steel wire over its wooden neck. Playing the ichigenkin is also very similar to playing the diddley bow. Musicians pluck its silk thread with an ivory pick worn on their right index finger and change pitch with an ivory slide worn on their left hand’s middle finger.
The Diddley Bow and Its Place in American Blues Music
According to Gerhard Kubik’s book, Africa and the Blues, the idea for making the one-string instrument later called the diddley bow was brought to North America by African slaves. Many blues musicians from the rural South grew up playing these diddley bows before they ever got their hands on a guitar.
Today, guitars are a dime a dozen, but could there be some benefit in retracing our musical heritage? Learning to find your way around a fretless diddley bow, for example, is bound to give you some useful lessons in ear training. Also, the diddley bow’s sheer simplicity will most likely push you to explore new techniques to color your playing.
While so many are consumed by upgrading to better and better axes, why not try instead a trip back to the basics? After all, if the diddley bow’s where BB King got his start, then it’s cool enough for me.
In related articles you can:
- Learn about the history of the diddley bow and some of the blues players who recorded with it,
- Find detailed directions on how to make a diddley bow,
- And discover techniques for learning to play the diddley bow.
For a valuable resource, go to One String Willie’s web site on Diddley Bows.
Marcy Paulson - From the moment Marcy Paulson picked up a recorder in fourth grade music class, she was hooked. Since then, her passion for music has ...
