As we’ve discussed before, some musicians aren’t content to just make music; some like to make the things that make music, then use them to make the music! This affects musicians of all levels and in all walks of life. Don’t believe me? Find a professional oboist (or bassoonist) who doesn’t hand-craft their own reeds. :-)
Anyway, I ran across this great article from our friends at Instructables explaining how to make your own bongo cajon. If you’re a percussionist, especially one who plays la musica latina, you may already be familiar with the concept…but for non-percussionists, a bongo cajon is a cajon (“large box” in Spanish) that produces pitches like a bongo: high and low. This allows the percussionist to play bongo patterns on the cajon. It’s a rather clever instrument and looks like it would be relatively straightforward and fun to make.
Whether making or playing, keep the music coming!
Musically yours,
Mark
Related Articles:
Tags: bongo, build, cajon, craft, DIY, do it yourself, how to, Instructables, instrument, make
General, Percussion | admin December 14, 2011 | 
Comments (0)
There are a number of Part-Time Musicians (PTMs) who enjoy building instruments nearly as much as they enjoy playing them. I’m not gifted enough to do that, although I’ve made several aesthetically-pleasing and functional repairs over the years. 
For those who need to go deeper, this is for you.
An ocarina is a fun little instrument similar to a very basic recorder. Our friends at Instructables posted this article on how to build one for yourself; pictures and sound clip are included with the instructions. If you’re itching to hit the woodshop and build something musical, this project is much more attainable (for most of us) than attempting to craft your own guitar or violin.
Have you built your own instrument? Drop us a line or leave a comment below. We’d love to share your experiences doing so with your fellow PTMs, whether resulting in triumph or cautionary tale. Sometimes one is just as good as the other… :-D
Keep playing,
Mark
Related Articles:
Tags: build, craft, DIY, do it yourself, how to, Instructables, instrument, make, ocarina
General, Woodwinds | Mark March 24, 2011 |
Comments (0)
If you’ve ever wanted or needed to record yourself, you’ve probably found the acoustics in your spare room, garage, basement, or outbuilding aren’t exactly optimal for a proper recording. We’ve published an article previously about building an entire studio, but if that just isn’t a possibility for you, read on; smaller-scale solutions do exist!
Brought to our attention by our friends at Instructables, this article describes how to make acoustic panels that dramatically improve a space’s acoustics while blending with their surroundings…and without breaking the bank. Following the steps described, it’s possible to build several panels for about $24 each – and maybe much less, depending upon what material options you have available.
The outbuilding I’d mentioned in the previous article about building a soundproof studio remains without soundproofing; frankly, it’s just too much project for me to tackle right now. But crafting a few acoustic panels could actually fit into a weekend…so again, the wheels turn.
If you’ve done this already – or are just further along in the process than I am (!) – please drop us a line or post a comment. The more we all know, the smarter we all are. :-)
Keep playing,
Mark
Related Articles:
Tags: acoustic, DIY, do it yourself, how, make, panels, recording, studio, to
Gear, General | Mark December 29, 2010 |
Comments (0)
Transposition is a tough concept for those who haven’t done much of it. Learning music as it’s written often poses enough of a challenge! But learning to transpose, either “statically” before you begin to play or “on the fly”, can really take your musicianship up a notch. Let’s take one step at a time.
This article from our friends at CathysChords shows how to make a transposition wheel. Transposition is a handy skill for guitarists, as you’ll often want to play music in a key that differs from what is written on the music you have (for orchestral players, please see Transposing for Trumpet: A Handy Reference). Whether the chords are particularly nasty as written or the singer just needs to take it down a step or two, transposition can be used to carry the day. It’s a simple skill once you get your head around it, and the wheel can help getting started even easier.
The basic idea is that when you see a chord or key (for guitar) that you want to change to a more suitable one, you can just “dial it in”. Line up the original chord on the wheel with the one you want to use instead, and then use the matching chords instead of those written on the music. To try it, grab a pencil and a piece of music that you’ve always avoided playing due to the ugly chords and give it a try. Dial in the first chord, lining it up with an easier-to-play one (maybe A or C). Write in the “new” chord by the original one on the music, and then repeat for each subsequent one…maybe for a line or two. Then try playing it. Magic!
Have a transposing story to tell? Drop us a line! We’d love to hear from you.
Keep playing,
Mark
Like what you see? Subscribe! We don’t spam you, and we don’t give out your email address to anyone. Period!
Related Articles:
Tags: change, chords, Guitar, how, key, make, to, transpose, transposing, wheel
Guitar, Learning | Mark November 14, 2010 |
Comments (0)
Some Part-Time Musicians (PTMs) have the goal to pick up a new instrument, or perhaps to learn new things with an instrument they already know and love. Some folks can’t stop at that. They must know how to build one. 
Neither obsession is the “right” obsession for everyone, and they certainly aren’t mutually exclusive. If you are “that kind of person”, this article may scratch an itch you didn’t even know you had. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
Some time ago, our friends at Instructables posted an article showing how to make your own guitar pickups. We had intended to run this shortly after our feature on replacing your guitar’s pickups, but other topics pushed it aside. No longer! Even if you aren’t inclined to tinker, this is fascinating stuff.
The Bottom Line
You can make your own guitar pickups for less than $10 each, but the real benefits to doing so don’t start or end at price. If you want to design your own, learn about the inner workings of your axe, or just inspire awe and envy among your gearhead friends (!), this project is a great way to do it. Enjoy!
All the best,
Mark
Disclaimer: Any destruction or improvements you manage to cause are your responsibility. Take full credit or blame for them yourself! If you’d like to share a cautionary tale or words of encouragement, though, feel free to drop us a line. We’d love to hear from you!
Related Articles:
