Take your creations beyond the workshop and onto the stage with diy music instruments! Let us show you how these creations range from simple, basic setups that produce beautiful sounds to more complex projects that require a greater level of engineering knowledge. With these tutorials and examples, we’ll guide you on this journey to make your own musical instrument for experimental, artistic or everyday use – so whether you’re starting out new or a seasoned sound creator, come explore the wonderful world of making your own music.
Circuit bender Dr. Bleep built this sweet Arduino-compatible drum machine, the Bleep Drum, with four sounds, four selectable sequences, tap tempo, record and playback, and more. Of course it’s open source and eminently hackable.
A tribute to the man who gave us so many good vibrations.
Every so often I come across a project or a maker that stops me in my tracks and fills me wonder and a reaffirmation of the power of making. Landfill Harmonic is one such project. The soon-to-be released documentary tells the story of the people of Cateura, Paraguay, a barrio built on a landfill where residents pick through trash to eke out a living recycling and selling trash. But a local youth orchestra also make beautiful music from instruments made from garbage. If the trailer is any indication, the film looks fantastic.
If you’re only somewhat aware of what circuit bending is–or have no idea!–be sure to watch BEND: Short documentary on circuit bending created by Greg and Tim Andresen of Greater Sirens with Nick Petterson and Thomas McColskey for one of their classes at Expression College. It features interviews with Dmitri SFC, Derek Sajbel (a.k.a. Dr. […]
Cristian Martínez’s Kraft Test Drummie and Robert Plant electronic musical instruments are super cool, and were even winners of the Made of Imagination contest in the category of Homemade Instrument. From the contest site: Cristian Martínez’s submission is a modified toy affixed with metal sponges, car antennas, and crocodiles clips. He is accompanied by his […]
Arboration controls a projected landscape based on the musical input of the user.
Learn how to take a guitar or bass with a broken headstock and flip it around. Build a headless guitar!
