Jonathan's Musical instruments from found objects podcast

Three-foot-long diddley bow demo

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:14:21 GMT

In this episode, I describe a single-stringed instrument called a "Diddley bow" and play some improvised blues riffs. The Diddley bow is typical of the American Southern States and is often associated with blues music. The simplest Diddley bow consists of the side of a house or a wood board, two nails, a length of wire and something serving as a bridge, such as a small rock, glass bottle or jar. My Diddley bow features a three-foot-long piece of lumber, two sixteen penny nails, two two-inch common nails, a piece of picture wire, a mini-paint can, a piece of scrap wood, a wood block and an L bracket. The wood block and L bracket keep the can from moving around. The scrap wood nut is held in place with wood screws. In addition, my Diddley bow features a guitar pickup.

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Blues riffs on an acoustic cigar box Diddley bow

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 21:30:30 GMT

In this episode, I play a cigar box Diddley bow. This is a single-stringed instrument similar to a guitar. My source of inspiration was a similar instrument I built from a kit.

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Blues riffs on cigar box bass with broom stick neck

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:38:58 GMT

In this episode, I play some blues riffs on a homemade cigar box bass featuring a broom stick neck, steel wire string, a screw eye, an eyebolt with accompanying nut, two washers and a wing nut, along with a scrap wood bridge.

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Blues on a two-string cigar box guitar

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 19:42:25 GMT

In this episode, I play some improvised blues riffs on a two-string cigar box guitar of my own design. A previous episode features a similar instrument. The only difference is probably just the cigar box I used to build the instruments and possibly the actual strings I used, along with the respective tunings.

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Blues riffs on two string cigar box guitar

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 18:38:21 GMT

In this episode, I play some blues riffs on a two-string fretless two-string cigar box guitar of my own design. This instrument features tuners consisting of eye bolts with accompanying nuts, wing nuts and washers.

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Blues riffs on a cigar box guitar with zither pin tuner and screw eye for a nut

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 22:00:10 GMT

In this episode, I play an experimental cigar box guitar with one string, a zither pin for a tuner and a small screw eye for a nut.

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Blues on a one-string cigar box fiddle

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 21:56:18 GMT

In this episode, I play a one-string cigar box fiddle of my own design. Here I play the instrument as if it was a guitar, such as a cigar box guitar, instead of as a fiddle or a violin.

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Blues riffs on three string acoustic cigar box guitar

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 21:52:08 GMT

In this episode, I play an acoustic three string cigar box guitar of my own design. Most of the parts, specifically the neck, bridge, strings and tuners, come by way of a local supplier of cigar box guitars, kits and parts.

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"Old Joe Clark" on one-string cigar box guitar

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 21:45:49 GMT

In this episode, I play a simple acoustic cigar box guitar of my own design. This instrument features a single string consisting of weed whacker cord, a tuner composed of an eye bolt with its accompanying nut, a wing nut and washers, as well as a nut and bridge consisting of wood dowels. The song I play is my rendition of a traditional bluegrass tune called "Old Joe Clark.""

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Demonstrating another acoustic fretless three-string cigar box guitar

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 19:40:25 GMT

In this episode, I play "Dreaming of the steppes," an original composition, on a three-string acoustic fretless cigar box guitar of my own design.

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Demonstrating cigar box guitar with string consisting of nylon fishing line

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 18:55:54 GMT

In this episode, I play blues riffs on a cigar box guitar featuring a string consisting of nylon fishing line.

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Demonstrating cigar box guitar with two strings made from weed whacker cord

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 18:30:30 GMT

In this episode, I play an original tune called "Silk Road" on a cigar box guitar featuring a cedar plank, wood dowel nut and bridge, tuners consisting of eye bolts, nuts, wing nuts and washers, as well as strings consisting of weed whacker cord.

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Demonstrating a wide-necked single string cigar box guitar

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 02:16:30 GMT

In this episode, I play some blues riffs on a single-string cigar box guitar of my own design. This instrument features a tuner consisting of an eye bolt, the nut accompanying it, a wing nut and two washers. The nut and bridge of the guitar itself consist of wood dowels. The neck consists of a two-and-a-half inch wide cedar plank gifted to me by a neighbor. Most of the guitars I have built have necks not much wider than one-and-a-half inches. I decided I wanted to use this plank and work around any challenges when it came to playing the finished instrument.

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Two string banjo demo

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 20:33:17 GMT

In this episode, I play a two-string banjo I built from scratch. My source of inspiration was a children's book about how to build musical instruments. This particular instrument features a neck consisting of a square dowel and a resonator made from the bottom of a plastic milk bottle. The tune I play, "Old Joe Clark", is my rendition of a bluegrass tune I used to play on guitar and violin.

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Acoustic skateboard lap guitar demo

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 20:16:05 GMT

In this episode, I play an acoustic skateboard lap guitar of my own design. My sources of inspiration were photos and videos featuring the electronic versions of similar instruments. The music I play is an original composition I call "Dreaming of the steppes." I use a glass medicine bottle slide while playing the instrument.

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Blues on acoustic boat paddle guitar

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 20:11:57 GMT

In this episode, I play blues riffs on a one-string acoustic boat paddle guitar. My source of inspiration was a video where the presenter demonstrated an electric boat oar guitar he had built. With few exceptions, I prefer building acoustic instruments, myself. This paddle guitar features a tuner consisting of an eye bolt, the accompanying nut, a wing nut and two washers.

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Demonstrating a cigar box diddly bow with packaging twine string

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 21:46:36 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate a one-stringed instrument inspired by a DIY kit about building your own cigar box diddly bow.

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Demonstrating a diddly bow

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 20:39:02 GMT

In this episode, I play an instrument called a cigar box diddly bow I built from a kit. I have actually built quite a few instruments from kits. Rather than having a separate podcast, I thought to include such instruments here. Kits may not be or include found objects but may be sources of inspiration. I also have a few similar instruments I built from scratch. The original kit served as a sort of prototype. NB: the diddly bow is similar to a guitar. This particular instrument features a tuner, a single guitar string, a neck, a nut, a bridge and a resonator in the form of a cigar box.

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Demonsrating a cigar box guitar with a "hum bucker" pickup

Wed, 15 May 2024 06:29:46 GMT

In this episode, I play a cigar box guitar I built from a premade poplar cigar box guitar neck, a cigar box, wood dowels, machine head tuners, brass ferrules, wood screws and guitar strings. I happen to love playing blues music and so what I play is an improvised blues tune.

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Demonstrating a cigar box guitar

Tue, 14 May 2024 02:43:37 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate the first cigar box guitar I ever built. This one is over twenty years old. A neighbor and friend tweaked the design by adding a piece of cedar to the headstock, among other improvements. This instrument has three strings. I often play blues music on it, as I do here in this recording.

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Clay ocarinas

Mon, 13 May 2024 01:39:35 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate a variety of clay whistles and globular flutes, aka ocarinas, I have made in the past.

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Ocarinas from plastic gum ball containers and cardboard

Mon, 13 May 2024 00:29:47 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate two ocarinas I made from plastic containers from gum ball machines. Gum ball machines not only dispense gum but also trinkets, key rings, key chains and toys housed in small plastic containers. Basically, I drilled holes in the bottoms and lids of two such containers and fastened cardboard mouthpieces to the lids with hot glue. The tubes are just strips of cardboard creased and folded over in such a way as to form rectangular tubes. I used tape to keep the mouthpieces from opening up again. The large ocarina has four finger holes and two thumb holes while the small ocarina has four finger holes.

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Demonstrating a wood whistle and two flutes

Fri, 10 May 2024 01:44:06 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate a wood whistle and two flutes. All three instruments are made from inner corner molding, inch diameter wood dowel and bamboo.

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Demonstrating wood Native American style flutes

Fri, 10 May 2024 01:41:44 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate two Native American style flutes I made from inner corner molding, dowels and pieces of scrap wood. I fastened the wood blocks in place with packaging string and elastic bands.

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Double flute

Fri, 10 May 2024 00:35:05 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate a double flute I made from inner corner molding, a wood slat, an inch diameter dowel and bamboo. This double flute has two mouth pieces.The wood slat divides the flute in two sections, Each section has four finger holes.

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Demonstrating a homemade wood drone flute

Fri, 10 May 2024 00:29:19 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate a drone flute I made from inner corner molding, a wood slat, an inch diameter dowel and piece of bamboo. Drone flutes have two parts. One has finger holes and the other does not. The side lacking finger holes provides a simple harmony in the form of a single note while the side with finger holes provides the melody.

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Demonstrating bamboo slide whistles

Thu, 09 May 2024 16:23:41 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate two slide whistles I made from bamboo tiki torches.

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Demonstrating two overtone flutes

Thu, 09 May 2024 00:28:26 GMT

In rhis episode, I demonstrate two overtone flutes I made from bamboo. These flutes have no finger holes. One produces a variety of notes by blowing harder or more gently into the mouthpiece, as well as covering and uncovering the lower (foot) end of the instrument.

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Demonstrating a bamboo Native American style flute

Wed, 08 May 2024 01:58:37 GMT

In this episode, I play an original composition I call "Silk Road" on a bamboo Native American style flute I made myself.

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Branch flute demo

Wed, 08 May 2024 00:29:54 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate a Native American style flute I made from part of a fallen tree branch. I used a hammer and chisel to split the branch in half, hollowed out the two sides, drilled finger holes and glued the halves back together. I also glued a small block of wood onto the body of the flute. Traditionally, a wood block featuring carvings of a totem animal are tied onto the body of the flute with leather lace. Once again, this flute is Native American style, because I I am not Native American by birth and did not make this instrument in a traditional fashion.

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Two five-hole bamboo Native American style flutes

Tue, 07 May 2024 19:30:24 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate two Native American style flutes I made from bamboo tiki torches and wood dowel. First I play a few notes from each flute and then I play them together with both mouthpieces in my mouth at the same time, in the manner of a drone flute or double flute.

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Demonstrating a copper penny whistle

Tue, 07 May 2024 14:50:16 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate a copper penny whistle I made myself. The whistle itself is made from a length of 1/2 diameter copper pipe and a piece of wood dowel. This instrument has six finger holes. As part of the demonstration, I play my rendition of "Loch Lomond."

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Bamboo recorder style flute

Tue, 07 May 2024 02:01:06 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate a bamboo flute I made from a tiki torch. I gave this flute nine finger holes in the manner of a recorder.

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Demonstrating a seven-hole bamboo whistle flute

Tue, 07 May 2024 01:58:11 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate a seven hole bamboo whistle flute I made from a tiki torch. This instrument has six finger holes and a thumb hole.

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Demonstrating five-hole whistle flutes

Tue, 07 May 2024 00:18:14 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate three bamboo whistle flutes I made from bamboo tiki torches. All three flutes have five holes each: four finger holes and a thumb hole, respectively. I made my flutes in the style of penny whistles, recorders and similar instruments. All such flutes feature an air duct assembly with a sound hole and beveled (cut at a slant) plug as parts of the mouthpiece.

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Demonstrating Kena-style flutes

Mon, 06 May 2024 02:59:22 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate five end blown notch flutes inspired by photos, descriptions and instructions for making a flute typical of the people of the Andes mountains.

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Demonstrating Anasazi-style flutes

Mon, 06 May 2024 01:46:21 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate two bamboo flutes inspired by descriptions and photographs of flutes found in a cave in Arizona. In addition, I used to have similar flutes I had bought at a local Native American music festival.An Anasazi flute has finger holes positioned so three such holes are closer to the mouthpiece end and three others are closer to the foot of the instrument. In addition, the mouthpiece is slightly beveled (cut at a slant). Unlike the Native American courting flute, the Anasazi flute is challenging to play and requires considerable skill on the part of the player.

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Rubber band zither demo

Sun, 05 May 2024 15:42:04 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate a makeshift stringed instrument consisting of a piece of cardboard folded into a box with a hole in it, rubber bands and a wood dowel. This sort of project could be useful to share with children, especially between the ages of seven and eleven. Besides being a possible school science project, the zither could be used as a source of amusement and entertainment.

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Drinking glass xylophone

Sun, 05 May 2024 01:07:53 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate how I make a simple xylophone using drinking glasses and water. Quite possibly, children, especially those between seven and eleven years, would enjoy this sort of project. As far as I am concerned, there is no real need for precision when it comes to tuning this instrument to an exact scale. If anything, what really helps is having the glasses all the same size and shape.

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Demonstrating simple percussion instruments

Sat, 04 May 2024 21:49:12 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate a pair of clapping sticks, a rhythm stick, a jingle stick, a pair of tube drums made from poster board and two cardboard tube drums. All the drums I demonstrate have drum heads consisting of masking tape.

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Demonstrating an experimental bamboo notch flute

Sat, 04 May 2024 20:06:45 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate a flute I made from a bamboo tiki. torch. This instrument is hollow throughout, has a curved lip as part of the mouthpiece, six finger holes and a thumb hole. The scale may be considered unusual. When I made my flutes, my focus was on creation and not precise tuning.

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Demonstrating shakuhachi-style flutes

Sat, 04 May 2024 19:01:10 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate three bamboo flutes inspired by the Japanese end blown notch flute called the "shakuhachi." A flute of this kind has a specially formed and shaped mouthpiece, as well as four finger holes and a thumb hole. I am not too familiar with Japanese music. Any tunes I play are original and improvised.

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Demonstrating a shepherd's whistle

Sat, 04 May 2024 18:56:07 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate a "shepherd's whistle." The source of inspiration was a children's book about making simple instruments. If I remember correctly, the instructions called for a piece of bamboo. Luckily, I live in a place where bamboo is prevalent--South Florida. The whistle, or whistle flute, includes six finger holes and a thumb hole--similar to a recorder. Also, this particular instrument features an air duct assembly as part of the mouthpiece. The air duct assembly includes a square hole cut into the side of the flute. The far edge of the hole (the edge closer to the foot end of the flute) is filed and sanded into a wedge shape. There is also a plug with one side flattened in such a way as to create a wind channel with the inside of the mouthpiece. When you blow into the mouthpiece, the air stream is directed toward the far edge of the square hole. Upon hitting the edge, the air stream produces a sound. Air duct assemblies are common to penny whistles, tin whistles, toy and police whistles and flutes similar to recorders.

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Cross (transverse) flutes

Sat, 04 May 2024 02:22:38 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate cross flutes I have made from bamboo tiki torches and cardboard tubes from aluminum foil rolls.Cross flutes are also called transverse flutes. Fifes are good examples. These flutes consist of hollow tubes with a sealed end and holes drilled into the side. The mouthpiece hole is positioned near the sealed end and the finger holes are located closer to the other end, or the foot of the instrument. Cross flutes are common to many cultures and countries.

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Simple whistles

Sat, 04 May 2024 00:29:43 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate how I use a paper straw, cardboard tubes and a 3D print model as simple whistles. If you blow gently over the open end of drinking water bottle, pen cap or similar object, you can often hear a pleasant sound. Musical instruments such as panpipes make use of this phenomenon.

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A sampling of reed instruments

Fri, 03 May 2024 00:14:31 GMT

In this episode, I demonstrate a simple harmonica, two drinking strow oboes and a homemade bamboo clarinet. The harmonica consists of a rubber band typically used to keep broccoli florets together, two small rubber or elastic bands, two craft sticks and two pieces of a plastic drinking straw. My source of inspiration for the harmonica and straw oboes are online websites about making simple instruments with children. A website called "folk urban.com inspired me to make the clarinet. Actually, the original instructions called for PVC pipe. After making one or two PVC clarinets, I decided to adapt the instructions to making a similar instrument from bamboo.

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Introduction

Thu, 02 May 2024 23:59:13 GMT

In this episode, I introduce the podcast: Jonathan's Musical Instruments from Found Objects. In addition, I introduce a simple horn I made by taping together three cardboard tubes from paper towel rolls, as well as a paper cup. Note: musical instruments may be classified in a variety of ways. A common way is by family: Brass, winds, percussion and strings. I do not have any brass instruments in my collection. The brass family includes a variety of horns. Obviously, the horn I made cannot be included in this group.

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