How to Play Musical Spoons: Basic & Advanced Techniques

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If you want to start playing music without buying a new instrument, all you need are a couple of spoons from the kitchen. Spoons have been a popular percussion instrument in folk and bluegrass music, but they work for keeping the beat to any song you want to play. Keep reading, and we’ll walk through how to play with spoons and the basic techniques for getting started. We even have some more advanced ways to play the spoons to impress your friends!

Looking for the card game instead? Check out our page on how to play Spoons against your friends!

Basics for Playing Spoons

Make a fist with your dominant hand. Pinch one spoon face-up between your index finger and thumb. Turn the second spoon upside-down and pinch it between your middle and index finger so there’s about 1 ⁄ 2  in (1.3 cm) between the spoons. Hit the spoons between your leg and your non-dominant hand so they click together.

Section 1 of 4:

How to Play Spoons as an Instrument

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  1. Hold out your dominant hand in a loose fist so your thumb is on top. Lay the first spoon face-up across the middle knuckle of your pointer finger so the end is near the base of your palm. Pinch the handle against your knuckle with your thumb. [1]
    • For the easiest to play, pick spoons that have a wider end on the handle so they stay more secure in your hand. Soup spoons are normally a good choice.
  2. Use a spoon that’s the same size as the first one, and turn it upside-down. Place the spoon between your middle and index finger so the backs of the spoons face each other and are about 1 ⁄ 2  in (1.3 cm) apart. [2]
    • Be sure to keep a firm grip on the spoons so they don’t move around when you play them.
    • While you can use any pair of spoons you have at home, you can also get musical spoons that are only used as an instrument.
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  3. Take your non-dominant hand and hold it parallel to the floor above your lap. Keep your palm flat when you’re just starting off. As you get more experienced playing the spoons, you can try advanced techniques that use different positions. [3]
  4. Position the cups of the spoons between your hand and the top of your thigh. Start off by moving the spoons down and hitting your leg so they make a clicking sound. Then, bring the spoons up to hit the base of your palm to make another click. Move the spoons up and down in a slow rhythm, aiming for a consistent sound with each hit. [4]
    • Think of each time you hit the spoons as an eighth note, with the beat starting when you hit your leg. When you do 8 hits, count it out loud like, “1-and, 2-and, 3-and, 4-and.”
    • If the spoons don’t make a noise when you hit them, the backs of the spoons are probably touching in your grip. Reposition the spoons so there’s a little space between them.
    • It’s normal for the spoons to slide or move around when you’re first practicing them. Take it slow, and reposition them in your hand if you need to.
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Section 2 of 4:

Basic Techniques for the Spoons

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  1. As you’re keeping a steady rhythm hitting the spoons, use a little more force on the second and fourth beats. This makes some of the clicks louder and more pronounced to make the beat sound more interesting. [5]
    • Once you add accents to the second and fourth beats, try doing accents on other beats and varying the rhythm. Aim to make a consistent noise whether you’re hitting your leg or your hand.
  2. Curl your fingers on your non-dominant hand into a C-shape and keep them rigid. Hit your leg with the spoons, and then hit the base of your palm. When you move the spoons back down, hit the ends of your curled fingers for a lighter third hit. As you speed up, the spoons will sound like the hooves of a galloping horse. [6]
    • Alternative: For a slower gallop, try hitting the spoons against your leg twice, followed by a single hit on your hand.
    • Try adding gallops in as flourishes after keeping a normal beat.
  3. Turn your non-dominant hand to a 45-degree angle so your palm is face-up. Spread your fingers apart and keep them stiff. Slowly drag the spoons down across your outstretched fingers so each one makes a click like a drumroll. End the roll by striking the spoons on your leg. [7]
    • The roll is sometimes referred to as a glide .
    • Aim to make each click of the roll sound consistent. If you notice a change in tone, make sure you’re gripping the spoons tightly and you’re not moving your fingers around.
  4. Spooners hit the spoons across their entire bodies while playing to create a more visually appealing show and make different sounds. Experiment with some of the up and down beats by hitting a new part of your body to see how they affect the sound and rhythm you’re playing. [8]
    • Try tapping the spoons on individual fingers instead of your palm for a lighter sound.
    • Strike your elbow or shoulder for more of a muted tone.
    • Be careful if you try playing the spoons on your head or mouth because you could hurt yourself if you hit too hard.
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Section 3 of 4:

Advanced Techniques for Playing Spoons

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  1. Hold your non-dominant hand so your thumb is pointing up. Curl your thumb and pinky in slightly and hold them rigid. Instead of moving the spoons between your leg and hand, quickly move them back and forth between your thumb and pinky for lighter clicks at a faster rhythm. [9]
    • Practice alternating from normal hits between your leg and hand to fidgets between your thumb and pinky so you can get used to adding them as flourishes.
  2. To add a truly unique sound to your routine, position the index finger of your non-dominant hand between the handles of the spoons. In one swift motion, slide your finger toward the cups and out from between the spoons. The spoons will rattle together like a spring, similar to the sound of an old doorstop. [10]
  3. Turn your non-dominant hand so your thumb points up. Hit the spoons against the base of your pinky first. Then, rotate your wrist like you’re turning a doorknob so you hit your thumb next. After that, strike the spoons against your leg to finish the move. [11]
  4. Hold your non-dominant arm out with your palms face up. Strike the spoons on your forearm just below your elbow first. Continue sliding the spoons down the length of your arm until they end in your hand. The spoons will click and make 3 distinct noises on the first hit, when they meet your wrist, and when they hit your palm. [12]
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Section 4 of 4:

Tuning Musical Spoons

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  1. The two main striking points are the tip, which is the rounded end of the spoon opposite the end of the handle, and the cup of the spoon, which is the concave part. Striking the tip of your spoons creates a lighter, brighter sound, while hitting the cup creates a stronger, more accented sound. [13]
  2. Cupping your hand makes a hollower sound, while flattening your hand out makes the spoons sound higher. Experiment with how you position your hand while you’re keeping a beat to hear all the different sounds you can make. [14]
    • Because everyone’s hands are a little different, the sounds you make will probably sound unique compared to someone else’s.
  3. If your spoons make an unpleasant ringing sound when you hit them, flattening them out can make a clicking sound without the metallic ring. Set the spoon with the cup face down on a piece of scrap wood, and lightly tap the back with a hammer. Test the spoon after every few taps to check if it’s making the sound you want. [15]
    • Some spooners like to play with one curved spoon and one flatter spoon for a wider variety of sounds.
  4. Once you’re comfortable playing one pair of spoons, try out another pair that’s a different size or made from a different material. Heavier spoons tend to have a deeper sound, while lighter spoons are higher-pitched. You can even try mixing and matching different spoon styles as long as they’re about the same size.
    • Slotted spoons: lower pitch and less resonant
    • Wooden spoons: lower pitch and more of a knocking sound
    • Plastic spoons: middle pitch with a clackier tone
    • Silver spoons: higher-pitched with more ringing
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    What can be done about bruising on the index finger?
    Community Answer
    Loosen up your grip -- bruising is usually caused by holding the spoons too tightly. Don't keep your hands so loose that the spoons fly off, though.
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    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 13
  • Question
    Watching the Spoon Lady, she used some kind of grease. What is it? Is it to amplify the volume and/or improve the tone quality?
    Community Answer
    The grease allows her to roll the spoons without them having too much friction and slowing down the rhythm.
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    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 18
  • Question
    Are wooden spoons good for this purpose?
    Community Answer
    You can use wooden spoons and they have a different sound, but master the metal ones first. Dessert spoons or soup spoons are best. You will find that the handle shape is critical to maintaining a proper grip on the spoons and that is the problem with wooden ones. The pictures above show the wide round ended handle type that works best, and that is harder to find on wooden ones.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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      Tips

      • Try playing along to the beat of your favorite songs when you practice. As you improve, try adding in your own flourishes to make it more unique!
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      • If the spoon handles start to feel uncomfortable when you’re playing for a long time, wrap them together with tape so the metal edges aren’t digging into your fingers.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/U0Tp8-NjsvM?t=29
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/DDhPihxHX_0?t=188
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/DDhPihxHX_0?t=287
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/X5e0TVUC_ko?t=235
      5. ↑ https://www.davidholt.com/music/playspoons.htm
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/X5e0TVUC_ko?t=639
      7. ↑ https://www.davidholt.com/music/playspoons.htm
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/tOrYwNlGziM?t=153
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/bBQJtgssQeQ?t=45
      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/bBQJtgssQeQ?t=81
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/IJC49YzU_jQ?t=19
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/bBQJtgssQeQ?t=138
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/bBQJtgssQeQ?t=15
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/tOrYwNlGziM?t=188
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/WLDoYHyq3zU?t=18

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To play spoons, start by gathering 2 spoons that are identical for the best results. Then, hold 1 spoon in your dominant hand so it’s positioned between your thumb and the middle knuckle of your pointer finger, with the cup facing upwards. Next, position the other spoon so that it’s between your middle finger and the middle knuckle of your pointer finger, with the cup facing downward. Once you have a good grip on your spoons, strike them against your leg to create a clacking, rhythmic noise. To learn how to use other parts of your body to create different sounds with your spoons, read on!

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