Good morning folks!

I picked up a CB Bitty "Brown Betty" diddley bow a month ago, and love the tone. It is the sort of sound I've always wanted to hear out of an instrument. I have zero background in music. A lot of cds and albums of Turkish, Middle Eastern, African and Cajun music, but no experience. Found the Canjo Book Vol 2 which has tablature, which is great for me. 

Due to carpal tunnel and arthritis, I cannot chord at all. I have to rest the instrument in my right hand, and use my thumb to press strings. (A slide bar is my other option.) I finger pick with my left hand, holding the instrument in my lap. 

Something I hadn't noticed until recently, is that the term "diddley bow" describes at least two different instruments-the cigar box or other resonant box with stick one (or two?) string instrument, and a plank with a tightly stretched string raised by bottles or other spacers. This makes looking for examples of performance and lessons really difficult. I've got an instructional DVD, and it is just too fast for me to try and follow. Any slow speed lessons out there with canjo tablature?

Thanks

Gordon (from the upper Northwet corner of the map)

Views: 155

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

Doug Thorsvik posted a video

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

Cigar Box Guitar Slingers - Spokane, 195th Zoom Mtg 03/25/24. Only 1-finger chords, free songbooks here: https://www.cbgslinger.com/download CBG SOF Songbook...
32 minutes 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 Poorness ! for loving it ! appreciated!"
17 hours ago
Southern Ray replied to Timothy Hunter's discussion just came accross this pickup idea on youtube.
" Very interesting. Thank you Timothy!"
17 hours ago
Kent Thurston updated their profile
18 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Punch Project!

She now sports gold metal CBGitty knobs, speaker and an Artec 2.5 watt speaker. Finished this in…
18 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Project Punch!

Gonna finally get back on this long-delayed project that is more than half complete. (The matching…
18 hours ago
Poorness Studios liked A.D.EKER's video
20 hours ago
BrianQ. left a comment for Rob (Uker) Porras
"Hope this helps?"
20 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"I appreciate the kind words Papa D! I have always loved the look of these cigar boxes. Glad to have…"
23 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
yesterday
A.D.EKER posted a video

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

The recorded History By Alan Lomax for the library of Congres of the Blues, from Mc Kinley Morganfield (Aka Muddy Waters) the in this take recorded Tribute ...
yesterday
Papa D commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"Beautiful..Nice work Doug.."
yesterday

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 -->