Today I would like to begin a new series at TCM called “The Most Underrated Musical Instruments“. I don’t really need to explain since the title is pretty self-explanatory.
I figured I would start this series off with an instrument that has been around for centuries. As a matter of fact, we all probably own one. What am I speaking of you ask? The jug.
This instrument requires little to no skill to play. All you need is A, a jug and B, some lung capacity. If you are a heavy smoker though, consider yourself not worthy, speed up the process of you dying and go jump off a bridge already (Except for you Jimmy J…we love you). If you are not a smoker, and posses both of those attributes, then we can continue.
Pick up the jug…go ahead, its not gonna bite. Position it at a 45 degree angle from your mouth, like Skinny Santa to the left. Instead of blowing like you would into a bottle, buzz your lips like you are playing a didgeridoo (Cause you know, we have all attempted to play that sometime in our lives. And yes, you can expect that in a future memo). Or if you have never played a didgeridoo before, pretend you are motorboating your best friends mom’s chest.
You can make different sounds that come out by changing the tightness of your lips. An oldie but goodie is to constantly make a higher pitch sound and then go directly to a lower pitch sound and repeat. If you do not understand, then picture the music that would go along with an extremely tall skinny fellow squatting then standing repeatedly. Still not getting it? Well, then your retarded.
If you have been living in a cave your whole life or are deaf and have never heard what a jug sounds like, please take a minute out of your day to listen to this jug duet. Edit* Deaf people will still not be able to hear what a jug sounds like…sorry for the confusion folks.
Jug Duet by “…and the Leasebreakers”
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I would like to put the Triangle up for nomination. Not only is this delightful little instrument music to our ears but it is functional as well. What other instument alerts us (from all the way across the farm, no less) as to when Ma has finished baking that sweet apple pie.
Duly noted.
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