Whip (instrument) facts for kids

A whip or slapstick is a cool percussion instrument used in music. It's made from two pieces of wood connected by a hinge. When you slap the pieces together, they make a sharp sound, just like a real whip cracking! Each piece of wood has a handle, so the person playing it can hold it easily without hurting their fingers.

What is a Slapstick?

A slapstick is a musical instrument that creates a loud, sudden sound. It's often used to add exciting effects to music. Imagine the sound of a whip in a movie – that's the kind of sound this instrument makes! It's a simple but effective way to add drama and rhythm to a song.

How a Slapstick Works

Playing a slapstick is quite simple. The musician holds the handles of the two wooden planks. Then, they quickly bring the planks together. The impact makes a sharp, cracking noise. It's all about the speed and force of the slap to get the right sound.

Where You Hear a Slapstick

You can often hear the whip or slapstick in modern orchestras, bands, and groups that play only percussion instruments. It's a fun instrument that adds a special touch to many musical pieces.

For example, in classical music, you can hear a whip near the start of Ravel's Piano Concerto (in the third movement). It's also used in Britten's famous Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra. These pieces help you hear how composers use this unique sound.

Different Kinds of Slapsticks

There is another type of slapstick that looks a bit different. This one has one wooden plank that is longer than the other. You can play it with just one hand! The player shakes the instrument quickly. This makes the smaller plank move away from the larger one, then slap back onto it.

This kind of slapstick makes a slightly different sound. It's still a cracking sound, but it might be a bit quicker or sharper. Many famous composers have used this type of slapstick in their music. These include Mahler, Richard Strauss, Ravel, Mussorgsky, and Hindemith. The very first whip instruments were designed a long time ago, back in the 14th century!

Images for kids

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  A slap stick

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  Clapper with the shape of a human hand. Probably elephant ivory. From Gurob, Fayum, Egypt. 18th Dynasty. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London

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  A whip being used in a marching band pit ensemble