Spoon (musical instrument)

Spoons can be played as a makeshift percussion instrument, or more specifically, an idiophone related to the castanets.

In the United States, spoons as instrument are associated with American folk music, minstrelsy, and jug and spasm bands.

In addition to common tableware, spoons that are joined at the handle are available from musical instrument suppliers.

An example is seen in Midsomer Murders Series 6, episode 2, where Detective Sergeant Gavin Troy plays the spoons at a house party joining a fiddle player who is entertaining the guests.

The song "This Old Man" refers to a related concept, except with sheep bones (hence paddywhack) instead of spoons.

[4] A video of a choir performing a Russian folk song with spoon and balalaika accompaniment can be found below.