How To Play The Musical Saw
Have you always fancied playing an instrument but aren’t someone who gets jazzed about frets and strings? The saw may be the perfect instrument for you!
“If you can sing, whistle, or hum a tune, you can play the musical saw!” — Clarence J Mussehl founder of Mussehl & Westphal
Get Yourself a Saw
Grab one from the garage, shed, old barn, or hardware store. But if you want a guarantee on consistent pitch and range, or haven’t had a tetanus shot, purchase a Professional Musical Saw online from Mussehl & Westphal or the aptly named musicalsaw.com. Have one custom made through a shop in Northern California. You can also find musical saws at folk or rare instrument shops, like Lark in the Morning.
Another benefit of purchasing a professional musical saw is that it can come as a kit. A full kit from M&W includes a saw, a soft case — very handy for travel, rosin, a mallet, instructions, and different types of bows. All for $99.95. At one point back in the early aughts, there was a charming cassette tape included. That is now a CD.
When it comes to size, you’ve got options. Tenor (28’), baritone (30–32’), and bass (36’) are the most common. The bass from Charlie Blacklock, coming in at about 3 ft long, makes a beautiful rich tone at the low end up through tenor range at the tip. It is wobbly…
