STRINGS

Violin, viola, cello, double bass, banjo and guitar all produce sound from a stretched string and are called Stringed Instruments.

Tin Can Violin (Moose Call)

Get someone to help you punch a holein the bottom of a tin can using a hammer and a nail. Thread a long cotton shoelace (or heavy cotton string) through the hole and tie a knot inside the can. Hold the shoelace firmly with a wet cloth and pull allowing the shoelace to slowly slip through the cloth. You will hear a loud honking sound. It sounds like a moose.

This moose call operates on the same principle as the most expensive Stradivarius.

A violin is made out of wood. My moose call's resonating chamber is a tin can. A violin has four strings, My moose call has one shoelace. A violin player puts rosin on her bow to create friction on the strings that sends vibrations up the strings to make music in the resonating chamber. I put water on my cloth for the same reason. When I squeeze and pull on the string, friction sends vibrations up the shoelace and into the tin can which amplifies the sound.

TIN CAN TWANGER

Tin Can Twanger

4 1" long 3/16" bolts

3 nuts

1 wing-nut

2 paint stir sticks

46 cm (18") fishing line or guitar string

one empty can - 2.84L (100oz)

Find two paint stir sticks and a large empty juice can. A restaurant size tomato juice can works well, but asmaller one will be ok too. You will need to use a drill so get someone to help you with this project. Stand a stick against the inside wall of the can and drill two holes and fasten the stick in place using nuts and bolts. Please see the diagram.

Using another nut and a bolt, fasten the other paint stir stick to the top of the one you just mounted to the can. The two sticks should now look like a letter "T." Drill a small hole into the bottom of the can and stick a piece of fishing line, weed-eater string, or guitar string through and tie a knot in the end. Fasten the other end of the string to the tip of the stir stick with a wing nut and a bolt. Make sure the string doesn't touch the side of the can; otherwise you will interfere with the string's vibrations.

By plucking the string and pushing down on the paint-stir-stick-handle you will tighten the string and make the note higher. Twang!

MILK CARTON GUITAR

1 250 ml (1 pint) milk carton

4 screw eyes

1 piece of wood 39 cm x 4 cm x 2 cm

(16" x 1 1/2" x 3/8") approx.

4 pieces of fishing line 50 cm (18") long

1 stapler (with staples)

1 sharp knife (be careful!)

1 plastic bread bag closer-thingy (kwik lok) for a pick

1 pair of scissors

Staple the top of the milk carton closed. It will become the "bridge". Now cut a slot into both sides of the container. Slide the wood into the slot. Staple the fishing lines to the tail end of the board and tie the line to the staple. Partly screw the eyes into the other end of the board and tie the line fairly loosely to them.

The line will tighten as you screw the eyes all the way into the wood. To strum your Milk Carton Guitar, use the bread bag plastic closer tab as a pick. "Hey Jimi Hendrix! Got milk?"