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The traditional music of the Turks & Caicos Islands is called Ripsaw Music or Rake ‘n’ Scrape. For centuries, musicians have used a handsaw, found in any hardware store, goatskin drum, hand accordion, locally known as the Constentina, hand maracas and acoustic guitar to create the distinct sound of the islands.The saw is held in a variety of ways to produce a bend in the center of the blade. Then a metal scraper, which could be a long nail, a fork or knife or screwdriver, is raked and scraped across the teeth of the saw, producing a blend of melody much like the percussion segment of an orchestra. This process is called Ripping the Saw. Bending the body and ripping the saw with the beat of the music produces a wobbled undertone.
The Forbes team of father and son are at the forefront of the traditional music scene on the islands. The development of the music has resulted in a magical blend of Jamaican Reggae, Bahamian Calypso and Eastern Soca.
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