How to Make a Clay Musical Instrument
Clay is not as strong as wood, so it is generally not used to create stringed instruments and other musical instruments that are under a lot of tension. Nonetheless, there are many different percussion and wind instruments that can be made out of clay. Of these, chimes are by far the easiest to make and are a great first musical project, particularly for those interested in percussion.
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Things You'll Need
- Oven-bake clay Bowl Water Clay tools (e.g., wire tool, knife) Kiln String Drill Dowel
Instructions
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1
Get oven-bake clay such as the Della Robbia clay linked to below. Pinch off a section of clay and knead it thoroughly to remove all air bubbles. You may have to knead water into the clay to moisten it.
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2
Decide whether you're going to make wind chimes or musical chimes. Wind chimes should be mounted in a circle so that when the wind blows, the chimes all clink against each other. Musical chimes should be mounted in a line up and down a dowel so you can control them more precisely.
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Use a rolling pin to roll the clay into a flat sheet. If you are making wind chimes, flatten the sheet to ½ inch wide or slightly narrower. If you are making musical chimes, make the sheet slightly wider.
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4
Use a wire tool or knife to cut out chimes of different sizes.You can cut either rectangular slats or more decorative shapes. Longer slats and larger shapes will have lower pitches. Rectangular slats will be easier to play as an instrument. If you're making wind chimes, cut out a circular piece of clay to mount your chimes on.
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Knead water into a little bit of clay in a bowl until it is wet and slippery. This clay, known as slip, is useful for fixing flaws and imperfections in ceramic projects. Rub slip into the chimes to smooth out any cracks. Cut a hole near the top of each chime to mount it. Cut a hole in the center of the mounting piece and holes around the edge to hang the chimes from.
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Follow the directions on the box of clay to dry and bake the chimes. In the case of the clay linked to below, dry the objects for at least a few days and then bake them at 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
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If you are using your chimes as a musical instrument, drill evenly spaced holes along a dowel to hang the chimes from.
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Hang the chimes. Thread a length of string through the hole in a chime and a hole in the dowel or circular mounting piece, and knot it securely.
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Tips & Warnings
You can play your chimes simply by running your finger along the row of slats. You can also use sticks and mallets, provided you don't hit too hard.
Don't get your clay too wet.
