How to Make Folk Musical Instruments

Folk instruments include a variety of percussion and string instruments.

Making instruments from items you may have around your home can be an enjoyable activity, or even a professional hobby. Folk instruments traditionally were made from household objects. There are myriad folk instruments you can make yourself with few bits and pieces. Following are two folk favorites: shakers and cigar box guitars.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic or metal can
• Dry rice, beans, or beads
• Duct tape
• Hot glue gun and glue
• Paint or objects for decoration
• Wooden cigar box
• 3 foot long 1x2 (poplar)
• Wood glue
• Clothespin
• Drill
• Woodworking file
• 2 eye lags
• 2 guitar strings

Instructions

Shakers

1. Wash and dry any bottles or cans you decide to use for your shakers.

2. Decorate the can if you choose. You can decorate it using paint, stickers, fabric or other material. Wait until paint or glue dries before moving on to the next step.

3. Put dry rice, beans or beads in the opening of the can. Place your hand over the opening and shake the can to see if you have the amount you want.

4. Place the can on a piece of duct tape, and trace around the bottom. Cut out the circle of duct tape and place over the open side of the can.

5. Put a circle of hot glue around the edge of the duct tape to further seal the top. Wait for glue to dry before using your shaker.

Cigar Box Guitar

1. Using wood glue, glue wooden cigar box or substitute (such as an Altoids tin) approximately three inches from the bottom of the piece of poplar.

2. Remove the metal pieces of a clothespin and separate the halves. Glue one-half of the clothespin approximately one inch from the top of the piece of poplar. You may need to trim the clothespin with a woodworking file to fit the edges of the poplar. Glue the other half to the top of the cigar box, in the middle. Allow glue to dry before moving on to the next step.

3. Drill two small holes about a half-inch from the bottom of the piece of poplar. Keep in mind the strings will go through these holes, and the holes cannot be too big, otherwise the strings will go all the way through.

4. Screw two eye lags in at the top of the poplar, about a half an inch from the edge. These will serve as tuning pegs for your cigar box guitar.

5. String the guitar by threading a guitar string through the drilled holes at the bottom of the poplar. The ball of the string should be large enough to stop up the hole. Pull the string over the top and thread through the eye lag. Turn the eye lag a few times to tighten the string. Repeat these instructions for the other string. The strings should rest on the clothespin pieces on the cigar box and at the top of the poplar. Now your guitar is ready to play.

Tips & Warnings

• Allow any glued parts to dry before moving on to another step.

• For the shakers, you can use multiple objects, including plastic and metal containers, plastic eggs and papier maché shapes.

• Use the tools, especially the hot glue gun and the drill, very carefully. Adults should supervise children.

References

• Nancymusic.com: Homemade Instruments
• Cigarboxguitars.com: How to Build a Cigar Box Guitar