Contestant Plays “Bones“ on Amateur Hour

From 1953, Akron, Ohio resident George Gilmore plays the bones on the weekly TV show Amateur Hour. For those who don’t know what’s meant by “bones,“ the word is used to describe the pieces of wood or, yes, sometimes actual bones which are played in a manner that makes them sound somewhat reminiscent of castanets. When played during live performances it’s surprising how loud the bones can be; their distinct sound is very much present even when played alongside amplified instruments. For those who’d like to learn more about rhythmic bones, this Wikipedia page is a good place to start: Wanna learn how to play the bones? Dom Flemons gives a quick tutorial at If you want to take your bones lessons further, “folboteur“ has posted a number of YouTube tutorials on the topic. You can find the first of the tutorials at Just want to watch some