Jonathan's Musical instruments from found objects podcast

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. M...

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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."" Hosted on Acast. See a...

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I play blues riffs on a cigar box guitar featuring a string consisting of nylon fishing line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 ne...

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. Hosted...

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acas...

In this episode, I demonstrate a one-stringed instrument inspired by a DIY kit about building your own cigar box diddly bow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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...

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I demonstrate a variety of clay whistles and globular flutes, aka ocarinas, I have made in the past. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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...

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.