Bones
Learn to play the bones, an instrument that is portable, unbreakable, inexpensive, easy to play any kind of music, prehistoric in origin, and always in tune. Many people have not heard bones playing, so with a little practice you will create a delightful surprise.
List of woods: maple, birds-eye maple, fur, western cedar, oak, hickory, poplar, cherry, walnut, purpleheart, cocobolo, wenge, pudak, zebrawood, rosewood, tulipwood, boxwood, teak, laminated, bubinga, canary, ziricote, lacewood, Osage orange, satinwood, kingwood, mahogany, and others.
These bones are examples only. The actual bones shipped will be made from different pieces of wood. If you send me the wood I will make bones from it for the same price as the domestic wood bones. Shipping is included for the bones.
click on image for larger photo.
- Domestic Wood Bones, $16
Click on picture at the left to see key to wood choices.
- Exotic Wood Bones, $20
Click on picture at the left to see key to wood choices.
- Rare Exotic Wood Bones, $24
Click on picture at the left to see key to wood choices.
- Laminate Wood Bones, $26
Each pair is unique. Please contact me if you have a special request.
“The best way to learn is through the powerful force of rhythm.”
— Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Bones are shaped like cow rib bones. They are about 1.125 inches (2.86 cm) wide with a radius of curvature of about 30 inches (76.2 cm), 7.5 inches (19.1cm) long and .3125 inches (.79 cm) thick. Different materials make different sounds. Basically, the softer the wood, the lower the pitch or frequency of the sound. Pine or fur make a good all round pair of bones. Sometimes a player may play with three bones in one hand. I have seen a straight bone used with a normal curved bone where both are held in the middle so that the bones strike each other at both ends. To give a muted effect, put a rubber band around one bone where they strike each other.
Holding Bones
Playing the Bones
The History of the Bones
The bones must be one of the oldest musical instruments known. The idea of hitting two sticks together to create a rhythm was probably only preceded by the voice in making music. The New Graves Dictionary of Music states that the bones were played in China before 3000 BC, in Egypt around that date, in ancient Greece and Rome, and in Medieval Europe. At one time people with “contagious” Leprosy were required to play the bones to warn others of their approach. More recently, bones’ playing was very popular during the time of the old minstrel shows in the late 1800’s. Today the bones are commonly played in many forms of traditional music, including Irish, bluegrass, French Canadian, Cape Breton, and old time.