How to Make a Homemade Guitar

Making a homemade guitar is a great way to teach children about making music, the production of sound and the history of instrument making. The ancients made simple guitars from basic materials, such as wood and sinew. Children can recreate this simple guitar using materials that can be found around the house. If your house does not have some of these materials, they can be purchased at any craft or arts supply store. Here is an easy-to-follow guide to help you create a homemade guitar.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 Empty Shoe Box
• 6 Sturdy Rubber Bands
• 12 Brass Fasteners
• Empty Toilet Paper Roll
• Scissors
• Paint
• Paintbrushes

1. 
    

   Paint an empty shoe box using bright colors. Using a paintbrush and acrylic or tempera paint, brush shapes and designs on the outside of the shoe box. The inside does not need to be painted because it will not be seen. Let the paint dry completely before going to Step 2.

2. 
    

   Cut a hole about 4 inches in diameter into the top of the empty shoe box. Cut the rubber bands open, making one long rubber band strip out of each. Poke the brass fasteners into the ends of the box, six per side. Tie the end of a rubber band to a fastener, and stretch it out, tying it to a fastener on the opposite end. Repeat this process for each rubber band.

3. 
    

   Cut open an empty toilet paper roll and collapse the roll upon itself. Carefully slip the collapsed roll into the end of the homemade guitar, sliding it underneath the rubber bands. This will lift the rubber band strings up, allowing the vibrations of the strings, when struck, to reverberate into the hole of the empty shoe box.

Resources

• Blick Art Materials