Handmade instruments with plastic bottles: try making flutes, percussion, and traditional ethnic instruments.
Plastic bottles really come in handy when you’re making DIY projects, like those for summer vacation.
Kendama and pinwheels are classics, but you can actually make impressive musical instruments using plastic bottles, too!
In this article, we’ll introduce instruments that use the bottle itself, as well as ones that use the caps.
By combining them with items like straws and paper plates, you can create flutes, percussion instruments, and even unique folk instruments—so take inspiration from the ideas we’re about to share and try making them yourself!
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Handmade instruments with plastic bottles: Try making flutes, percussion, and folk instruments (11–20)
Kachikachi Animal
Pull the ears and it makes a sound! Here’s an idea for click-clack animals.
You’ll need a kraft paper cup, a pen, two plastic bottle caps, scissors, and tape.
First, leaving 1.5 cm at the top, make four evenly spaced cuts in the paper cup.
Fold two of the cut sections and trim them with scissors to create ears.
Attach the plastic bottle caps with tape to the sections you didn’t fold—and you’re done.
Draw your favorite animal and make some noise!
Kalimba
Do you know the instrument called the kalimba? A kalimba is a traditional African instrument where you pluck metal tines arranged on a box with your fingers to make sounds; it’s also known as a “thumb piano.” This is about making a kalimba using a plastic bottle, a board from a loaf of kamaboko (fish cake), and plastic coffee stirrers.
Cut off both ends of the plastic stirrers with scissors, fix the kamaboko board to the plastic bottle with double-sided tape, and wrap wire around it.
Cut the assembly in half, secure both ends with vinyl tape, fasten it with a rubber band, place the plastic stirrers under a pair of chopsticks, and tape them in place—and you’re done.
Enjoy the mysterious sounds!
In conclusion
We introduced a whole range of handmade instruments you can make using plastic bottles. They ranged from very simple ones to more elaborate, satisfying projects. Some of them also have a deep appeal as instruments—you can play them impressively if you practice a lot. So take this opportunity to make your own and give it a try!