How to Make a Simple Musical Instrument

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You can make beautiful music without buying expensive instruments. For thousands of years people have been making instruments out of natural materials and household items using their own two hands. Read on to learn how to make a simple drum, shaker, flute, xylophone, and rain stick.

Method 1
Method 1 of 6:

Making a Balloon Drum

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  1. You can use an old pot, a bowl, a vase, or a bucket. Choose a deep, sturdy container as your base. Avoid containers made out of glass or other fragile materials. [1]
  2. You'll likely pop a few in the process of making your drum, so it's good to have more than one. Choose large-sized, sturdy balloons. You may want to get a variety of sizes to you can be sure to find one that fits your chosen drum base.
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  3. Take a scissors and cut of the end of the balloon right where it becomes narrow. [2]
  4. Use one hand to hold the balloon over one end of the base while you use the other hand to stretch it over the other side. The balloon goes over the opening of the pot, vase, or bucket you're using as the base. [3]
    • You might want to get a friend to help you hold it it place so it won't snap back.
    • If the balloon you used seems too small or to large for the base, try a different sized balloon.
  5. Use a heavy-duty piece of packing or duct tape to hold the balloon in place all the way around the rim of your drum base.
  6. Use chopsticks, pencils, or other long, thin objects to play your drum.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 6:

Making a Shaker

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  1. You can use an aluminum coffee can, a glass jug with a lid, or cardboard cylinders to make shakers. Wooden containers also work well. Each type of container will end up making a different, unique sound.
  2. Any number of small items will make interesting sounds when you shake them. Gather a handful of some or all of the following items: [4]
    • Beads, either plastic, glass or wooden
    • Dried beans or rice
    • Coins
    • Seeds
  5. Overlap each loop of tape a bit to make sure the container gets completely covered. [5]
  6. Use paint or and/or other decorating materials to add bright colors and patterns to the shaker.
  7. Use the shaker as a percussion instrument by itself or with a band.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 6:

Making a Two-Note Recorder

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  1. This works well with a wine bottle, olive oil bottles, large glass jugs, and any other glass container with a skinny neck. [6]
  2. Use a glass cutter to cut a small hole in the bottom of the bottle or jug.
  3. Position your lips so that you're blowing horizontally right over the opening. Keep blowing until you get a clear note. This may take a while, so be patient and keep practicing. [7]
  4. Do this as you blow, and experiment with the different sounds it produces.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 6:

Making a Water Bottle Xylophone

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  1. Choose round bottles with flat bases and wide mouths. You can also do this with jars. Number them 1 through 5. [8]
  2. Add the following amounts to the water bottles:
    • Bottle 1: 19 oz. This will produce an F note.
    • Bottle 2: 13 oz. This will produce a G note.
    • Bottle 3: 11 oz. This will produce an A note.
    • Bottle 4: 8 oz. This will produce a C note.
    • Bottle 5: 6 oz. This will produce a D note.
  3. Tap the spoon against the sides of the bottles to produce notes.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 6:

Making a Rain Stick

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  1. Hammer them in sideways in random areas around the tube. Hammer in at least 15 or so nails for best effect. [9]
  2. Tape a piece of cardboard or another sturdy cover over the bottom of the tube.
  3. Pour in some rice, sand, dried beans, beads, popcorn kernels, and other small objects that will make the sound of rain.
  4. Add a second cover to the top of the rain stick, and tape it down.
  5. You could also decorate it with paint or stickers.
  6. Tip it from side to side to hear the sound of falling rain.
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Method 6
Method 6 of 6:

Making a Straw Oboe

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  1. 1
    Get a straw. You can find one at almost any restaurant or you may have some at your house.
    • Small straws (such as coffee stirrers or Capri Sun straws) or straws that bend don't work.
  2. 2
    Using your teeth, flatten one end of the straw to make a mouthpiece with similar principles as those of a double reed. Experiment with it until it makes a noise.
    • If it's easy to blow through and no sound comes out, like a normal straw, try flattening it more. Or you can use your embouchure (lip position) to hold the sides down farther.
    • If it's really hard to blow into, it may be too flat. Blow into the other end to open the "reed" a little.
  3. 3
    Cut holes into it using a compass and scissors.
    • Plan out where you want the hole to be, and how big. Keep in mind you'll be covering it with a finger.
    • Poke two holes in the straw using the sharp end of a compass, or something similar. The tiny holes should be at the top and bottom of where you want the hole in the straw.
    • When poking the holes, you should make them as large as possible but be careful that the tool doesn't puncture the other side of the straw or air may leak out.
    • Using scissors, put the tip of each scissor blade into the small holes made by the compass. If the holes are too small for the blades, re-insert the compass and try rotating it a little to make the holes bigger.
    • Make a cut with the scissors to connect the holes.
    • Now that you have a bigger place for the scissors to fit, insert one scissor blade into the line you cut and carefully cut out a circle.
  4. 4
    Cut as many holes as you'd like.
    • Don't make too many; remember, you only have so many fingers to play them with! A recommended number is six.
    • If the holes are too high up, they may interfere with the vibrations of the "reed".
  5. 5
    Blow into the "reed" similarly to a woodwind such as an oboe.
    • Every straw sounds different. It may even sound just like a clarinet!
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  • Question
    How would you make a guitar?
    Community Answer
    You could get a tissue box and decorate it. Then, cut six rubber bands in half and stretch them across the length of the tissue box.
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  • Question
    What can I make out of a water bottle?
    Community Answer
    You can make maracas by putting coffee beans or seeds in the bottles.
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  • Question
    What can I use if I don't have a balloon for the drum?
    Community Answer
    A latex glove, maybe, or a tarp. Both will make a different noise, however.
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      Tips

      • Another way to make drums: Get a bucket and paint it. Cover it in clear (see-through) paint to make it shiny. Do that to several more buckets until you get a set of drums. Put them together, upside down, into a circle. Sit in the middle of the circle and drum away!
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      Things You'll Need

      Drum

      • Container, such as a pot
      • Balloon
      • Duct tape
      • Chopsticks

      Shaker

      • Container with a lid
      • Dried rice, beans, beads, etc.
      • Masking tape
      • Paint or stickers

      Flute

      • Water jug or wine bottle
      • Glass cutter

      Xylophone

      • 5 20-oz water bottles with flat bottoms
      • Measuring cup
      • Water
      • Spoon

      Rain Stick

      • Paper towel roll
      • Cardboard
      • Scissors
      • Tape
      • Nails
      • Hammer
      • Wrapping paper

      = Stroboe

      • Straw
      • Compass or other object with a sharp end
      • Scissors

      Video

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRUaPwaiJCQ
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv5veWymGs4
      3. ↑ https://www.appetitetoplay.com/lets-make-balloon-drum
      4. ↑ https://picklebums.com/music-shakers/
      5. ↑ https://picklebums.com/music-shakers/
      6. ↑ https://takelessons.com/blog/homemade-musical-instruments-z15
      7. ↑ https://takelessons.com/blog/homemade-musical-instruments-z15
      8. ↑ http://www.philtulga.com/water.html
      9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0C-K0VxMMk

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