Arts Workshop

Deep Bass Fiddle

Time: About one half hour.
Cost: nothing

Ready!
You Need:

cardboard or plastic cylinder (oatmeal box, plastic pail, etc.)
2-3 pieces of cotton, nylon string or shoelaces
a small piece of thick cardboard
a dowel or other round object that can act as a handle
butter knife or chopstick
scissors, nail and a hammer (if using a plastic pail)
pencil

Set!

Cut your strings so that they are the same length.
Cut a 3 inch round piece from you cardboard.
Using the nail, punch three holes in the cardboard.
Mark off on the bottom of the oatmeal box or pail the same holes and punch those. It is important that the holes in the pail and the holes on your cardboard match up!
Tie loose notes at the bottom of your strings. String them through the cardboard. You might want to arrange them from thickest to thinnest.
Next, string them through the pail.
Step on the pail and pull the strings so there tight but comfortable to hold.
Wrap the stings around the dowel and tie them off.

Go!
Play the Deep Base Fiddle by placing a foot on the pail while holding the dowel so that the strings are tight. Play notes by plucking the strings or bowing them with a butterknife or chopstick.

Try experimenting by:

holding the dowel at different angles
trying different types of strings
mixing the string types up
try bigger and smaller pails to get different tones and dynamics
find things that might rattle and place them on top of the pail.

More musical instruments you can make at home:

Play your instruments in a Neighborhood Jam Session!