Posted in: Percussion by Louie Jerome on December 29th, 2007 | 14 Comments
Take a pair of spoons and in less than ten minutes you can become a musician. Play along with all your favorite music. This looks really good but it’s simple to learn.
Playing the spoons is a simple thing to do and should only take a few minutes to learn. You will need to practise, as with any musical instrument, if you want to sound really good.
First of all you need to select your instrument. Any pair of spoons will do but you will find that large ones with deep bowls sound best. Teaspoons work well and are easy to hold but the sound is not so rich. It is not a good idea to use silver spoons because they are soft and will dent easily.
Hold one spoon with bottom of the bowl facing down, between you thumb and first finger and the middle one between your first and second fingers. Make a fist. The bowls should be about half an inch apart and held still. This takes a little practise.
You can fasten the spoons together, putting cardboard between the handles, to make them easier to hold, especially if you have small hands, or you are teaching children to play.
Tap the spoons on your leg and if the position is right you will hear a sound. Always hold your instrument firmly and remember that it is the action of hitting the spoon on your leg, arm, fingers, or your other hand that make the different ones of sound.
This looks very impressive but it is quite easy to learn.
It will take lots of practise to play rhythms and riffs and learn to play along with your favorite music but the effects you can achieve are quite amazing.
This short film demonstrates how easy it is to play this instrument.
You can even form your own spoon band but be careful, it can become addictive. You may find yourself picking up spoons and playing along to music in the most unlikely places.
Have fun!
Judy Sheldon-Walker December 29th, 2007 at 8:45 am
I remember playing the spoons as a child. Thank you, Louie, for bringing back the memory.
louie jerome December 29th, 2007 at 9:04 am
Glad you enjoyed it, Judy. I have taught my 15 year old grandson to play spoons and he says it’s a great party trick!
Lucy Lockett December 29th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Some things will never be forgotten because they are simply fun!
Dee Huff December 29th, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Louie, I’ve never been able to play the spoons, but now I’m definitely going to have a go. You make it seem so easy.
louie jerome December 29th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Dee, it is really easy to look good doing this but I tend to hit my fingers with the spons sometimes…ouch!
C A Johnson December 29th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
I really enjoyed reading your article. I am going to try and see if I can play the spoons too.
Nick Kenney December 29th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
I tried it on our first trip to Ireland, as a band member inducted me as official “spoon player”…I couldn’t get the hang of it but gave it a good go! There was an Irish gentleman in the group that played them beautifully!
Dee Huff January 7th, 2008 at 2:56 am
Louie, did you resubmit this with a correction or something? I thought I was having a touch of deja vu until I opened it up and saw all the comments we made last year. I decided that his must be my chance to stumble the article, so I did, and I’m down as the discoverer! Does anyone else want to give it the thumbs-up?
Josey January 7th, 2008 at 6:21 am
I am ready to play! Thank you for the simple instructions.
Best Wishes,
Josey
louie jerome January 7th, 2008 at 6:24 am
Wow, Josey! A musician already. Take care with the bit where you hit the spoons on your cheek as in the video. I did it…it hurts! LOL
Anne Lyken-Garner January 7th, 2008 at 7:17 am
I too will give this a try. This looks like a new website, is it?
valli January 7th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Thank you for the useful instructions.
josh January 1st, 2009 at 2:19 am
It was well worth my 10 minutes to learn and get some rhythm going! Thanks for the invaluable help!
Larue February 1st, 2011 at 7:18 pm
Hello All – I am a longtime amateur musician (percussion primarily) and love using spoons as an dubbed in track to support the rhythm sections of my home studio recordings;it\’s really a nicer \”filler\” to boost the depth of the overall sound.