Duckwalk
Encyclopedia
The duckwalk is a stage an element of guitar showmanship popularized by Chuck Berry
.
While the origins of the duckwalk have been traced as far back as T-Bone Walker
who already during the 1930s performed dance moves while playing his guitar, it was Chuck Berry who made the duckwalk popular and who is often credited as the inventor. In his own autobiography Berry states that he used to perform the duckwalk as a child to entertain his family and in an interview with the Rolling Stone magazine he also claimed that it was in a 1956 show in New York City that he performed it for the first time in order to hide pleats in his silk suit. As the audience loved these moves, he did them again and again.
Angus Young
of Australian hard rock band AC/DC
copied Berry's duckwalk in his shows.
The duckwalk is performed by going in the squatting position
and moving forward, letting one lower leg swing back and forth in the air while playing the guitar.
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
.
While the origins of the duckwalk have been traced as far back as T-Bone Walker
T-Bone Walker
Aaron Thibeaux "T-Bone" Walker was a critically acclaimed American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, who was one of the most influential pioneers and innovators of the jump blues and electric blues sound. He is the first musician recorded playing blues with the...
who already during the 1930s performed dance moves while playing his guitar, it was Chuck Berry who made the duckwalk popular and who is often credited as the inventor. In his own autobiography Berry states that he used to perform the duckwalk as a child to entertain his family and in an interview with the Rolling Stone magazine he also claimed that it was in a 1956 show in New York City that he performed it for the first time in order to hide pleats in his silk suit. As the audience loved these moves, he did them again and again.
Angus Young
Angus Young
Angus McKinnon Young is a Scottish-born Australian musician, and the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of the rock and roll band AC/DC. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with other members of AC/DC in 2003 and is known for his energetic performances,...
of Australian hard rock band AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
copied Berry's duckwalk in his shows.
The duckwalk is performed by going in the squatting position
Squatting position
Squatting is a posture where the weight of the body is on the feet but the knees are bent either fully or partially . In contrast, sitting, involves taking the weight of the body, at least in part, on the buttocks against the ground or a horizontal object such as a chair seat...
and moving forward, letting one lower leg swing back and forth in the air while playing the guitar.