Wide Open Bluegrass: What's a Dobro?
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- The Dobro is the instrument that usually grabs people's attention when listening to a bluegrass band. The distinctive sound catches your ear, but it's also the way the instrument is played that catches a lot of people's eyes.
"It is technically a type of guitar, but it does not sound like a guitar," explained Doug Pratt. "It has a little of the punch of a banjo, but not quite."
The Dobro gets its sound from a resonator inside the instrument - a device that naturally fluctuates at some frequencies. It's been around since the 1920s, but it's just gaining new popularity.
"The Dobro is hot now. It's the new thing," said Pratt.
And Pratt knows. The Cary resident became fascinated with the instrument in college after watching Flatt and Scruggs TV shows.
Eventually, he bought a knock-off and that helped him become the player and teacher he is today.
You won't find the Dobro in every band but when you hear it it's sure to stick out.
"People say 'I like some country music, or I like some bluegrass, I just don't like that real twangy stuff and what do you play?' and I'll say the Dobro. 'What's that?' and I'll say 'The thing that puts that twang in it,'" said Pratt.
As we spent time with Doug we learned his Dobro is also a healing tool. He is battling cancer and in his darkest days when he barely had strength it was his Dobro that got him through. Maybe it has to do with the goodness which is the meaning of the word Dobro in most Slavic languages.
