Musical instruments beginning with W
Washboard, whistle, woodblock: these English names are often used unchanged by French-speaking musicians. They describe a scraped percussion instrument, duct flutes and a struck wooden block. Under W, the important distinction is between the name and the actual sound-producing mechanism.
Instruments under W and how they work
| Instrument | Family | How to recognise it |
|---|---|---|
| Washboard | Percussion, idiophone | A washboard used as an instrument: its ridged metal surface is scraped or struck. Accessories may be added to the setup. |
| Tin whistle | Wind, duct flute | A small flute whose mouthpiece directs air towards an edge, usually with six finger holes. Its name does not guarantee that the entire instrument is metal. |
| Low whistle | Wind, duct flute | A lower-pitched whistle, often larger. Its key and finger-hole spacing depend on the model. |
| Woodblock | Percussion, idiophone | A hollowed wooden block struck with a stick. The cavity helps produce a short, clearly defined resonance. |
The washboard turns an everyday object into an instrument
The ridged surface gives the musician something to scrape against and strike rhythmically. You may encounter boards in wooden frames or surfaces worn on the chest; setups are not all identical. Listen to the regularity of the scraping, the accents and how the playing complements other instruments.
The Library of Congress presents Blind James Campbell’s washboard band, a concrete example of its musical use. To compare another scraped surface, see the güiro — French index.
A whistle is not just a signalling device
In Irish music in particular, tin whistle and low whistle refer to melodic instruments. The mouthpiece channel directs the breath towards an edge; the fingers change notes by opening and closing the holes. An Irish transverse flute uses a different mouthpiece technique: find it under letter F — French index.
Woodblock: a short sound can still cut through
Its clear attack can mark a rhythm without sustaining a long resonance. The block’s size, wood, cavity and the stick all contribute to its tone colour. Do not confuse it with a metal bell or a tuned xylophone bar.
For an alphabet quiz, check whether English names are allowed. This index keeps them when they correspond to identifiable musical usage, without inventing translations or adding questionable commercial names.