How to make a string less guitar

Age: 3+

My 5 y.o really wanted to make a guitar and made one himself using his toy cricket bat and placing strips of paper on it with tape. Seeing this, I decided let's make one! I found this great video on how to make a guitar. Link below

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNFbk18gsbR/?igshid=1dn2o9owek5ih

I did diverge from what is in the video.

The guitar in the video is smaller than what we wanted.

Instead of using string, you can use rubber bands but will need to keep the area where you tie it closer to each other so it doesn't stretch too much or break.

We made a guitar without strings. Didn't want to risk the rubber band snapping and injuring their eyes!

Materials:

cardboard box

utility knife

screw driver

scissors

stickers - can get from dollar tree or any stickers you have at home

paint - can get a 4 pack from Dollar Tree

Rubber bands - if making strings

Directions:

1) Cut 2 pieces of carboard in shape of a guitar (One will be the face of the guitar, other will be the back). (Pic C)

2) Cut 1 piece of carboard in shape of bottom of the guitar. (Pic A)

3) Cut 2 small rectangle pieces of carboard to place on top of 1 guitar (similar size to the bridge part of the guitar). (Pic B)

4) glue the rectangles pieces to the face of the guitar cutout as shown in the picture. (Pic B and C)

5) Paint the face of the guitar cutout. Your child can also use markers, stickers,

any other form of art. Tips: Use an old table cloth or shower curtain and layer with newspapers to make clean up easier. Recommend doing it on the floor vs a table so your child has more space.

6) If painted, let it dry before going to the next step.

Tip: If you get the paint from the Dollar Tree store (one we used), it dries darker. So if you want the colors to be brighter, recommend coating the cardboard with white paint first.

If doing strings:

Option 1:

-punch holes below the bottom of rectangle and above the top of the rectangle. (see picture below)

-cut the rubber band and tie the back of it in the back of each hole and stretch it across to the top corresponding hole and tie it in the back.

Option 2:

After the guitar is finished, place 2-3 rubber bands around the guitar where the sound hole is. (see picture above)

7) Glue the face of the guitar to the back of the guitar.

8) Glue the bottom cutout of the guitar to the back of the guitar.

No strings:

-Use any plastic container with lid you have at home that you want to upcycle.

-Super glue the bottom of the container to the back of the guitar where the sound hole is located.

-Place small beads in the container and have your kids make noise. We used 10 beads.

Math/Science:

Have your kids try putting different numbers of beads in the container and make sound. What type of sound is made? How is it different if you add or remove beads from the container?

Have your kids try other items in the house. Rubber bands, pushpins, cotton balls, rubber bands, crayons, etc. Have them experiment and see what makes the best sound.

If making strings option 2, have your kids try placing different number of strings and see what sounds are made.

*Remember to recycle or upcycle parts of the guitar appropriately with you kids after they are not playing with the guitar anymore!