How to Make Box Guitars With Shoe Boxes and Rubber Bands

Guitars, a staple in rock-n-roll music, haven't always attainable. Today anyone can own one regardless of their budget. All that's needed is a few household items and the following instructions.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Shoe box
• Rubber bands
• Push pins
• Unsharpened pencil
• Paper towel tube

1. Cut a smooth hole in the lid of the shoebox. The smoother the hole in the box guitar, the better it will look and sound.
2. Insert push pins about 2 inches from the bottom of the sound hole in the shoe box lid. There should be at least 4 strings on the shoe box guitar but no more than 6.
3. Attach one end of each rubber band to the push pins by tying them. Attach the largest, thickest rubber band to the nearest side of the push pins. Continue attaching the rubber bands, from the thickest to the smallest.
4. Make enough holes on the other end of the sound hole for the loose ends of the rubber bands to fit into. Tie these in place.
5. Slide an unsharpened pencil underneath the tied end of the rubber bands to keep the rubber bands from touching the sound hole and to enhance the sound quality.
6. Tape the shoe box lid to the bottom of the box.
7. Create a handhold by inserting a paper towel tube into the top of the box.
8. Decorate the newly created rubber band shoe box guitar in any way desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Create a homemade instrument band by making other musical instruments such as drums and maracas.