Fun for Kids! A Collection of DIY Musical Instrument Ideas Using Everyday Materials
Handmade instruments that bring the world of music closer.
Their charm lies in how easy they are to make with materials you already have on hand, and in the fun of learning how sound is produced during the making process.
Using items like plastic bottles, cardboard, and rubber bands, you can create instruments that produce authentic tones.
The methods for making maracas, castanets, koto, and more are very simple.
Not only can you enjoy making and playing them with children, but it’s also a chance to learn how music works.
Use this as a reference and try making your own original instruments!
- Handmade instruments with plastic bottles: try making flutes, percussion, and traditional ethnic instruments.
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- Handmade maracas ideas. Easy to make! Musical instruments for kids.
- [Music-themed Educational Toys] A roundup of toys that let you enjoy sounds
- Simple DIY Drum Ideas: From Den-Den Drums to Taiko Drums!
- Let’s play Christmas songs with handmade instruments! Craft ideas for sound-making instruments
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- DIY ideas for a den-den daiko (Japanese pellet drum). Let’s make and play with this nostalgic toy!
- Toys you can make from cardboard crafts! Authentic ideas you can build and play with
- Let's make toys with paper cups! Simple and fun handmade toys
- Made with toilet paper rolls! Exciting and fun easy handmade toys
- [Let’s Make and Play!] Handmade Toy Ideas You Can Create Yourself
- Fun crafts using straws
Kids will love it! A collection of DIY musical instrument ideas made with everyday materials (21–30)
How to Make an Easy Guitar
A simple guitar you can make with paper cups lets you easily live out the dream of strumming a ringing guitar.
First, glue the bottoms of two paper cups together.
Then stack another paper cup on each side with slits cut into them, and attach rubber bands into those slits—done.
The key here is the length of the rubber bands.
By choosing which slit to anchor them in and lining up rubber bands of different lengths, you can create differences in sound just like a real guitar.
Think about what kind of sound will make it feel cool, and fine-tune it into your ideal guitar.
Cardboard guitar that makes sound
Let’s introduce a fun-to-make cardboard guitar.
Prepare one cardboard box, five rubber bands, a food tray, packing tape, glue, scissors, and a cutting mat, then let’s get started.
Draw a rough outline of a guitar on the opened cardboard and cut out each part along the lines.
Make slits along the long side of the food tray; the depth of the slits will change the sound it produces.
Thread the rubber bands through the slit area.
Attach the food tray to the hole in the guitar body part using packing tape.
Glue the neck and head together.
Then glue the neck and head onto the guitar body to complete it.
Paint it and add decorations to finish your own original guitar!
egg maracas
These colorful maracas are sure to lift your spirits! Here’s an idea for making egg maracas.
What you’ll need: egg capsules, beads, construction paper and Christmas-themed illustrations, and large stickers.
The charm of egg maracas is that the steps are simple.
The playing method is simple too, so kids can have fun performing.
The colorful look with beads in all different colors is adorable and bound to brighten your mood! Give it a try and make some yourself.
Fun-to-shake shaker
Here’s a fun shaker made from a plastic wrap core.
Use origami made of film.
Wrap double-sided tape around the core and seal one end with the origami.
From the other side, add beads or similar fillings and seal it the same way with origami.
Wrap washi tape around it, then cut the origami into strips and wrap them on.
Add googly-eye stickers and a mouth to finish! It’s fun to dance with to music, too.
Little kids will enjoy it, so be sure to make it together and have a great time!
Making instruments with a plastic wrap core
Let’s make a Chilean instrument that sounds like rain using a plastic wrap core! First, mark a bunch of toothpicks at the length of the wrap core so they match its length.
Next, cut the wrap core in a spiral.
Glue the cut toothpicks along the spiral using wood glue or similar adhesive.
Once you return the spiraled core to its original shape, seal the openings with duct tape.
Put in grains like mixed grains, different sizes of rice, beads, or beans.
After you cap it, your Chilean instrument, the rainstick, is complete!