Instruments Utilized by the Okies
The Okies emigrating from the Southwest utilized both string and wind instruments to craft their music. In The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck describes the instruments which the Okies bring across their journey to California.
The harmonica, a popular wind instrument, was prized for its portability and cheap price. It was widely used to accompany other instruments, or played by itself. Steinbeck illustrates how harmonicas were an integral part in music creation for the Okies: “A harmonica is easy to carry. Take it out of your hip pocket, knock it against your palm to shake out the dirt and pocket fuzz and bits of tobacco. Now it’s ready. You can do anything with a harmonica: thin reedy single tone, or chords, or melody with rhythm chords” (328). Among the Okies, some of the most popular instruments include the guitar, violin, and the harmonica, which all fit harmoniously to complement their musical traditions (Dennis Chowenhill, Chabot College).
In addition to harmonicas, guitars were also popular among the Okie migrants, however they were more expensive to maintain and repair. Steinbeck captures the importance of guitars to Okie musicians: “A guitar is more precious. Must learn this thing. Fingers of the left hand must have callus gaps. Thumb of the right hand a horn of callus. Stretch the left-hand fingers, stretch them like a spider’s legs to get the hard pads on the frets” (328). Steinbeck captures the close relationship between a musician and their guitar. In addition, different songs, and playing styles were passed down from generation to generation. Steinbeck dramatizes the passing down of playing styles among the Okies: “This was my father’s box. Wasn’t no bigger’n a bug first time he give me C chord. An’ when I learned as good as him, he hardly never played no more. Used to set in the door, an’ listen an tap his foot . . . ‘Play,’ he’d say. ‘Play nice.’ It’s a good box” (328). For the Okies, instruments and music contained a history that expanded for generations.
The fiddle, was as much an integral part of Okie music as the previous instruments, although more difficult to master. Steinbeck writes, “The fiddle is rare, hard to learn. No frets, no teacher. Jes’ listen to a ol’ man an’ try to pick it up. Won’t tell how to double. Says it’s a secret. But I watched. Here’s how he done it. Shrill as a wind, the fiddle, quick and nervous and shrill” (329). The fiddle was utilized by musicians to provide the fast paced melodic tune synonymous with the “Chicken Reel,” the music that accompanied a square dance. Steinbeck captures the cooperation of musicians using all three instruments—guitar, harmonica, fiddle—to craft a Chicken Reel tune: “These three in the evening, harmonica and fiddle and guitar. Playing a reel and tapping out the tune, and the big deep strings of the guitar beating like a heart, and the harmonica’s sharp chords and the skirl and squeal of the fiddle. People want to move close. They can’t help it. ‘Chicken Reel’ now” (329). Chicken Reel is a tune that ushered the start of a square dance. Moreover, songs and instruments were also played in private spaces. Instruments and music, due to their wide use played an important part in Okie migrant culture.