April 24, 2004

Where words fail, music speaks...
We can all make music by clapping, whistling, humming and singing, but to expand this limited capacity has led to the invention of the numerous musical instruments. These instruments vary from simple, notched sticks, rattles, etc. to highly complex systems.

Following is a brief introduction to some musical instruments, minus the music! But surely your imagination can play the appropriate music...

Musical instruments
These instruments are classified by the way they make sound but this may become a bit fuzzy around the edges so you are welcome to disagree and if you have suggestions then do send them to us.

Percussion
When the main vibrating units are the resonating bodies of the instruments themselves, or when the instruments have vibrating skins. Tabla, dholak, drums of all kinds, are examples of percussion instruments.

Stringed
Characterized by having (you guessed it!) strings. Their vibrations provide the sound. Sitar, tanpura, guitar, etc. are stringed instruments.

Wind
By blowing into these, vibrating bodies of air are produced and thus sound is produced. Been, murli, flute, trombone, etc. are wind instruments.

Electronic instruments
These create sound through electrical signals turned into vibrations by a speaker. The more recent instruments can talk to each other using a protocol called MIDI, and are digital.

The music factory
Why not get together with a few friends, make the following instruments, and have your own band. You can make some very original music!

Rubber band box guitar
You will need:

— A styrofoam box or a shoe box

— A variety of rubber bands (in general the thicker the band the louder the sound).

— Paper towel tube

* Just stretch the bands by pulling them
* Take the top off the box and stretch the rubber bands around the box so that they pass over the open top of the box
* Pluck the rubber band and hear the sound
* Be careful not to wrap too many rubber bands or the box may collapse
* To tune your rubber band box guitar you can make the strings tighter or looser across the open top
* Take the paper towel tube and trace the circle on one of the smaller sides of the box
* Cut a hole slightly smaller than the traced circle and slide the tube into the neck. Never mind that the strings don’t go up the neck — the neck is just there to look cool...
* Pluck the strings to play.

Tambourine
You will need:
— Two paper plates
— String
— Jingle bells

* Staple two paper plates together, facing each other
* Using a hole-punch, make holes around the plates and tie jingle bells to the holes with the string
* Shake it and make some great music.

Chimes
You will need:
— Ruler or stick
— Washers
— Nail polish (optional)
— String
— Metal spoon

* Paint the washers with nail polish to decorate them if you like
* Hang the washers from the ruler or stick by wrapping the string around the ruler or stick and securing it
* Strike the washers with the spoon to play

Comb buzzer
You will need:
— A pocket comb — Tissue paper

* Fold a piece of tissue paper over the tooth edge of a comb
* To play, hum through the tissue paper

Xylophone
You will need:
— Tall glasses or jars
 Water
— Spoon

* Fill the jars with different quantities of water. Having less water in the jar will raise the sound pitch
* Add different colours in each jar to make it look prettier
* To play, gently strike the jars with a spoon

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