Jim Kanas: Jazz Guitarist - Folk Musician
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limberjacks
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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how to play a...

LIMBERJACK

This folk toy is a real musical instrument! Play cool rhythms by yourself, along with others or with recordings by following these simple steps:

1) Sit on the narrow end of the "paddle board" (flat board) leaving lots of board free (away from your body) to bounce like a diving board. The board should stick out on your right side if you are right handed or between your legs like riding a bike.

2) Make a fist with your right hand (if you are right handed) and gently pound on paddle board near where you sit and play a steady beat (keeping "double time", i.e. "1 and 2 and 1 and 2 and...").

3) Hold the limberjack still by grasping dowel rod with your left hand (the hand you do not write with) and place limberjack over the paddle board so the board bounces up and touches the feet to make the limberjack "clog"/dance.

4) Play different rhythms by lifting the limberjack away from the board (while still pounding a steady beat with the other hand) then replanting the feet onto the board.

Do not slap the limberjack against the board. Let the board do the work. Remember to keep a steady beat with your playing hand (pounding hand). If you are left handed, pound with your left hand, put the board on your left side and hold the limberjack with your right. After you master steps 1-4, you can brake away from these rules to play interesting counter rhythms against the beat!

HAVE FUN!

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