Washtub bass

The washtub bass was used in jug bands that were popular in some African American communities in the early 1900s.

The hallmarks of the traditional design are simplicity, very low cost and do it yourself construction, leading to its historical association with lower economic classes.

Ethnomusicologists trace the origins of the instrument to the 'ground bow' or 'ground harp' – a version that uses a piece of bark or an animal skin stretched over a pit as a resonator.

Evolution of design, including the use of more portable resonators, has led to many variations, such as the dan bau (Vietnam) and gopichand (India), and more recently, the "electric one-string", which amplifies the sound using a pickup.

[2] It is also known as bush bass or Tbox in Australia, and was used by the Northern Territory group the Mills Sisters.