Dolly Parton is basically a walking masterclass in "making it work." You’ve probably heard the iconic clacking at the start of her 1980 anthem 9 to 5. It sounds exactly like a busy office pool from forty years ago, right? A room full of IBM Selectrics hammering away. Most people assume a foley artist just dragged a typewriter into the studio and hit the keys in rhythm.
Honestly, the truth is way cooler.
That percussive "chicka-chicka" sound isn't office equipment at all. It’s Dolly’s own acrylic nails. Specifically, she’s rubbing them together like a washboard. It’s a rhythmic trick she developed because she was bored out of her mind on a movie set and didn't have her guitar handy.
The Weird History of the Dolly Parton Nails Song
Back in 1980, Dolly was making her big-screen debut. She was filming the movie 9 to 5 alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. If you’ve ever been on a professional film set, you know it’s 10% acting and 90% sitting in a trailer waiting for someone to move a light three inches to the left.
Dolly didn't want to just sit there. She had a deal with the producers: she’d play the role of Doralee Rhodes, but only if she got to write the theme song.
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The problem? She couldn't exactly lug a Gibson acoustic onto the set while they were filming. It would have been too loud and scattered the "vibe." So, she started watching the extras and the crew. She watched the way women moved in the "office" environment. To keep the beat, she started clicking her long, fire-engine-red acrylic nails together.
From the Set to the Studio
She’d spend her days on set "playing" her fingers. She’d come up with a line—tumble out of bed and I stumble to the kitchen—and tap out the rhythm on her tips. At night, she’d head back to her hotel room, grab her guitar, and write down what she’d found during the day.
By the time she got to the recording studio with producer Gregg Perry, the nail sound had become the backbone of the track. Perry loved the sound but decided to layer it. If you listen closely to the final mix of the dolly parton nails song, you’re hearing a combination:
- Dolly actually playing her acrylics into a high-end microphone.
- A real typewriter added for extra "mechanical" weight.
It worked so well that the album credits for 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs actually list a very specific performer. Right there in the liner notes, it says: Nails by Dolly. ## How Does Someone Actually "Play" Their Nails?
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It’s not just random tapping. If you try to do this with natural nails, it sounds like... well, nothing. You just get a dull thud.
To get that crisp, typewriter "clack," you need the density of acrylic. Dolly has explained this in interviews with everyone from Jimmy Fallon to Graham Norton. She essentially cups her hands and runs the nails of one hand across the nails of the other in a rhythmic, washboard-style motion.
It’s a percussive technique that’s surprisingly difficult to master. During a famous appearance on her 1987 variety show, Dolly tried to teach Patti LaBelle how to do it. They performed "Shortnin' Bread" using nothing but their manicures. While Patti gave it a valiant effort, it’s clear that Dolly’s "instrument" is something she’s tuned over decades of songwriting.
Why This Matters for Songwriters and Fans
There’s a lesson here that goes beyond just a fun piece of trivia. It’s about the "found sound" movement before that was even a trendy term.
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Most artists wait for the "perfect" conditions to create. They want the quiet studio, the expensive gear, the right mood. Dolly wrote a Grammy-winning, chart-topping masterpiece using the stuff she had literally attached to her hands.
Surprising Facts About the Recording:
- The "5 to 9" Update: In 2021, Dolly re-recorded the song for a Squarespace Super Bowl commercial. She went full circle and performed an a cappella version where the only percussion was her nails.
- The Broadway Connection: When 9 to 5 moved to the stage, the percussionists had to figure out how to replicate that specific "clack" without actually wearing acrylics.
- The 20-Instrument Myth: People often cite that Dolly plays 20 instruments (which is true—she plays the autoharp, banjo, fiddle, and more), but fans always argue that her nails should officially count as the 21st.
What to Do With This Info
If you’re a fan or a musician, don’t just let this be a "did you know" fact.
Go back and listen to the track with good headphones. Don't focus on the brass or the lyrics. Listen to the very first four bars. Once you know it's a manicure, you can’t un-hear it. The rhythm is slightly more "organic" than a machine. It has a human swing to it.
Next time you’re stuck in a meeting or waiting for a bus, try it.
- Look for the sounds around you.
- Realize that some of the greatest hits in history were born out of boredom and a little bit of creativity.
- If you're a songwriter, stop waiting for the guitar. Use the dashboard of your car or the keys in your pocket.
Dolly didn't need a symphony to write an anthem for the working class; she just needed a fresh set of acrylics and a story to tell.
Actionable Insight: To hear the clearest version of the "nail percussion," seek out the 2021 "5 to 9" version or Dolly's live performance on The Tonight Show where she demonstrates the technique without the backing band. It’s the best way to understand the specific "washboard" technique she uses to turn a beauty choice into a musical legacy.