GUTBUCKET Meaning and
Definition
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Gutbucket is a term with multiple connotations, primarily used to describe a style of music and an instrument associated with this style. Firstly, in the realm of music, gutbucket is a genre characterized by its rawness, simplicity, and often improvised nature. Originating in the early 20th century, gutbucket music emerged from African-American communities, particularly in the American South, and featured a down-to-earth, earthy sound. It often incorporated elements of blues, jazz, and folk music and was played on homemade or improvised instruments, such as a crude box bass or a one-stringed instrument made of a stick and a string attached to a bucket or container, hence the name "gutbucket."
Secondly, gutbucket can also be used to describe the instrument itself. The gutbucket instrument, also known as a washtub bass or gutbucket bass, is a stringed contraption consisting of a metal or wooden washtub, a broomstick, and a length of string or wire. Played by plucking or striking the string, the gutbucket bass produces a distinctive, deep resonating sound. It is often used in jug bands, folk music, and, of course, gutbucket-style compositions.
In a broader context, the term gutbucket can also be utilized metaphorically to describe anything that is basic, rudimentary, or unsophisticated, evoking a sense of simplicity and directness.
Common Misspellings for GUTBUCKET
- futbucket
- vutbucket
- butbucket
- hutbucket
- yutbucket
- tutbucket
- gytbucket
- ghtbucket
- gjtbucket
- gitbucket
- g8tbucket
- g7tbucket
- gurbucket
- gufbucket
- gugbucket
- guybucket
- gu6bucket
- gu5bucket
- gutvucket
Etymology of GUTBUCKET
The word "gutbucket" has its roots in African-American Vernacular English (AAVE), specifically in the jazz and blues culture of the early 20th century. It is a compound word, combining "gut" and "bucket".
"Gut" refers to the abdomen or stomach, and in this context, it suggests a musical instrument that is makeshift or low-quality. It implies that the instrument is made from basic materials such as a metal bucket, with strings or wires stretched over it.
"Bucket" refers to a container which, when used as a resonator for a stringed instrument, can produce a deep and resonant sound, resembling the low tones of a double bass. The word "bucket" highlights the resourcefulness of musicians who often had limited access to traditional or expensive musical instruments.
Combined, "gutbucket" signifies a rudimentary and improvised string instrument, typically used in early blues and jazz music.
Idioms with the word GUTBUCKET
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a gutbucket
The idiom "a gutbucket" typically refers to a person or thing that is crude, rough, or unrefined, especially in terms of behavior or appearance. It often implies a lack of sophistication or class.
