How To Make a Cookie Tin Banjo (start to finish) | Beginner-friendly Tutorial | 3-string DIY CBG
2024 ж. 22 Мам.
58 517 Рет қаралды
It seems like everyone has an empty cookie tin laying around this time of year. Here's a tutorial that shows you how to make it into a 3-string banjo. I hope someone finds inspiration and builds their own. Why not?
Intro - 0:00
Parts needed - 0:31
Tools needed - 2:13
Preparing the neck - 3:17
Preparing the tin - 9:31
Finishing the neck - 13:25
Tune it up - 15:04
Marking the fret lines - 16:19
Final thoughts - 19:15
You can purchase the strings/bridge/tuners I used from CB Gitty:
www.cbgitty.com/guitar-instru...
www.cbgitty.com/guitar-instru...
www.cbgitty.com/guitar-instru...
See more of my DIY musical projects here: • Musical DIY Projects
#diyinstrument #cbg #cigarboxguitar #homemadeinstruments
Thanks for the inspiration. My son and I built one in about four hours. It turned out great and we had a fun time making it.
That is so great to hear. I remember my dad doing projects with me when I was little so I love to hear that kind of feedback. All fun aside... it's actually a good sounding instrument as well.
If you want it to sound a bit warmer, you could line the can with thin plywood. It both stiffens the can, reducing tininess, and increases resonance.
That's a good tip. Thanks for the suggestion. I'm pretty happy with the way this one sounds though.
That would definitely decrease resonance...Cookie tins are some of the most resonant materials available. Volume is affected by "specific modulus" AKA stiffness to weight ratio. Aluminum is extremely stiff at a much lower thickness than woods. Adding plywood would increase the weight and decrease the stiffness, which would definitely make it quieter. It would still be a good idea to remove the lid off the box and replace it with a thin sheet of plywood, for better tone.
@@N8Dulcimerreal
YES! I was waiting for this, I bought some strings years ago for a Canjo, put them inside a cookie can with some bolts and forgot about it, time to finish the project!
Thanks for checking out the video. I hope you get complete the project. I'm super impressed with this one.
I love the way you found the fret spots. Excellent!
I actually think that's easier than using a template but most people disagree with me. Remember the fretlines aren't actual frets, they're just a guide for where to put your slide. It's the slide that makes the actual fret. Anyway, thanks for checking it out.
@@musicalmiscellany your way to fretting (even if it's meant for the slide) is a very smart way to flip upside down the problem of marking the scale having to adjust capo and saddle and positioning the fretboard accordingly (when we want to glue a fretboard)... It is most of all an evident demonstration of the knots of resonance on a vibrating body (here the string), that's what we guitarists call under the name of "harmonics". It seems so smart to me because you ask the string to tell you her sweet spots. Pitagora is exulting for you from the Ade!
Awesome video! Very informative & well put together.
Thanks man. This banjo really came out nice.
Love this! What a fun project!
I'm surprised by how much I love this thing. It really sounds good.
Very Nice video, we built one after seeing your video. We even ordered the exact same cookie jar🙂 And it sounds great!! thanks a lot! Greetings from the Netherlands.
Thanks for that feedback. I'm glad the video was helpful. I really like this little 3-stringer. Thanks again.
really love your work my friend!!!
I appreciate that. Thanks for checking out the vid. Hopefully it was helpful.
Great video. Working on a PANJO build now. A cookie tin banjo is on my list. My solution to the center on the pan was to trace the outline on paper, cutout the outline, and fold the paper in half for the centerline. After that, I put the paper on the tin to mark my centerline.
Thanks for watching the video. That's a good way to find the centerline. Good look on the build.
Thanks for sharing! Really nice job! 🙂🙂🙂
Thanks for checking it out. I always hope these vids inspire someone else to build a similar project.
followed your directions and built myself a cookie tin 3 string! Sounds cool, resonates like crazy. Will add the pickup soon. Such fun. Thanks
Thanks for that comment. I make these vids and then I wonder if anyone actually uses them. Great to hear when someone does.
Thanks for you video, it inspired me to make one. I used the drip pan from an electric stove burner. The holes are already made for one. You are spot on, they are a blast to play. Thank you for your video.
That's great to hear. I make these videos hoping they will inspire someone else so I really appreciate that. Keep on pickin!
Nice demonstration! I built my first one this way but have evolved my technique since then.
Thanks for checking it out. I'd like to see how you build them now. I made this the super stripped-down way to keep it simple but obviously... you could embellish it a lot.
@@musicalmiscellany I have been planning on doing a video to show how I build cookie tin instruments, but as you have likely noticed, I have taken a little break from posting videos. It is on my "to-do" list!
@@stevesstrings5243 Awesome. I look forward to it.
Great build. What a delicious buttery sound you got out of that tin. Can't decide if emptying the tin or playing it after the build would be the most fun. Probably the latter.
Thanks for checking it out. I am so impressed by the sound. It almost sounds electric. I honestly didn't expect it to sound this good.
10:02 this is the type of tech I use to haha! thanks for a simple imformative video on making one of these things up!
It's funny how that happens. Everyone thinks they need to measure everything until you start to realize which things are formulaic and which things are theoretical. Half the fun of building CBGs is learning all those nuances.
@@musicalmiscellany spot on! Just like playing them you just have to find your groove and style. Thanks again for the inspiration!
@@lakescraftbox Truer words have rarely been spoken (or typed in this case).
You make it all look so easy Kale but I know it woundnt be for me. But one day this is another video I would like to follow with my husband’s help. Maybe when we are retired lol. That would be such a fun project !! Really cool and it really sounds nice. Great for the slide !
This is actually a pretty simple project. It's beginner friendly. I think you could do it... but I get it... everything is daunting the first time. It sounds so good though!
One of the best time saving power tools I've found for building CBG's is the oscillating multi-tool. With the right blade it's great for notching boxes and tins and doing other small cuts.
Oh man. I've had one of those on my wishlist for years. I need to just break down and buy one. I think they look so useful. Thanks for the confirmation... and for watching.
I love the tattoo of the plastic spinner disk we used to shoot from those disk guns
Thanks. Ironically, it's supposed to be the insert for a 45 record album but I too remember those toy guns and it's really similar.
I have watched tons of videos on doing builds. This has got to be the best one for a beginner like me. You covered so much vital information and made it so simple to understand. Very motivational to get started on my build. Would be my recommendation as a first video for anyone wanting to build a cookie tin banjo or any stringed instrument. A great introduction and overview of all the steps and considerations.
I really appreciate that. I make these videos hoping they help someone else so it's really great to hear that kind of feedback. Thank you so much.
Awesome video! I have a cookie tin and will get some spare wood from work (piece of pallet but whatever) and will have to figure out for strings and such but am looking forward to trying this.
I love to get that kind of feedback. Thanks for watching the video. Hopefully it was helpful
@@musicalmiscellanyThank you! Yes it was, oh, and i want to add, its awesome that you also added how to find the sounds. I hope I will be able to report on progress soon. Cheers!
@@musicalmiscellany Hey man! So, as promised, I report back on the progress. and the short version is - i made it! I've constructed a... a... stringed instrument (for lack of a better word) from a rectangular cookie box and various junk from work (broom stick, baling wire, etc.) I made the string tensioner myself from wood, inspired by "tamburica", which is a stringed instrument from my country. looks knobby and large and i love it, gives it that rustic and authentic feel i want. I even decorated it just a touch. It has a single string and sounds more like a turkish tambur than a banjo or guitar - but i love it! I did do some mistakes, the hold i drilled for the tensioner i a wee bigger than tensioner so i have to stuff something so it keeps the tension. but other than that, it's amazing! So now, i have and i find it pretty easy to improvise basic melodies on it. And as a person which never had an interest (nor talent) for playing musical instruments, nor do i come from a musical family, having made such an instrument makes it in my head intimate and unimportant enough so i can have no expectations of it or myself. and in a weird way, it works. i keep it near my bicycle and whenever i come from work, i grab it and pluck a few chords. still figuring things out on how to best hold it, pluck the string, etc. it's a really really basic instrument but the sound is sweet! And there's something on a whole other level when one plays the music oneself as opposed to listening to audio.
thinking about it.
Thanks for watching.
I think I might make one but with a shorter “drone” string like an actual banjo. I think it’d be great for Clawhammer playing.
That would probably be a cool setup. Go for it.
8 months later, did you end up doing that? Asking for someone who wants to do the same thing. (It's me.)
i love making similar and crazier ones. openable backs rule for adding electronics storing lunch... i just use a heavy 'stanley' knife to pierce the straight cuts into the metal; forming clean folded tabs on the sides and back of the neck. very small starter holes are good, but not needed. also, thinning the part of the neck and back (inside the can) to form edges that give a finished meet up of these parts. and scoop out some wood under the soundboard to give it flex. lose only about 2-4mm per side. can taper a bit towards the tail stock. my mate just found a tin with my name on it! -david's cookies-
Thanks for checking out the video.
I'm gonna use this to create a banjo-baglama or a bouzouki
Thanks for checking out the video.
I absolutely love this! I play banjolele and I've been wanting to get into trying to make an instrument. This is wonderful! New subscriber! Is that 23 inches you measured from the center of the nut or the front or back of the nut?
Thanks for checking out the video. I hope it inspires you to build one of your own. When you measure scale length, you want to measure from the nut contact point to the bridge contact point. Depending on the shape of the nut, that could be the middle or the back edge. In this case, it's close to the middle. Honestly though, don't get too involved in that because with the floating bridge, you can easily move it a small amount to get the intonation where you want it.
use tyraps to make the frets,easy to adjust!
I’ve heard of that but not tried it. Thanks for watching the vid.
any advice on how to electrify it? so much fun
Stay tuned. 😁
great job .,but can u suggest how to make your own slide?
Thanks for checking out the video. Alas, I don't have a video on slide making but my friend Steve does. Check out his video here: kzhead.info/sun/or1-gMqLf6mtY3A/bejne.html
Oh and I’m making a 4 string with a piezo pickup. The pick up will be between the neck board and tin surface.
With piezos, placing it anywhere on the resonant part of the tin should work. There’s been a lot written on this (and hypothesis vary) but most folks believe the top is most resonant a little bit outside the center. You can usually pluck a string a feel the surface to find the most resonant spot. All of that said… I’ve found the placement doesn’t make a huge difference so I say out it where it’s convenient.
What timber are you using. Here in uk Hardwood is hard to find. ?
It’s a piece of oak board. It’s pretty common to find in hardware stores in the US. Honestly though any hardwood should work fine. I’ve used maple, poplar, pine, cedar, and walnut in the past. They all work great.
If i want could i use more strings for other notes ro it wont work?
It should work fine with two, three, or four strings. whenever you wanna do.
What if you wanted to do a 4 string cookie tin. What would the tuning be on that?
Thanks for watching. With CBGs, there’s no “correct” tuning. Everyone seems to gravitate towards their favorite. Popular 4 string tunings include DGBE, GDGB, CGDA, GCEA, and several others. My personal favorite is ADGB which is essentially the middle 4 strings of a 6 string guitar. Check out CBGitty.com. They sell string packs designed for various tunings.
@@musicalmiscellany thanks for replying mate. I will have the 4 string finished in the next week. I will send you a pic.
What’s the scale length on it? Or just from the bottom of the nut to the 12th fret measurement?
It’s a 23” scale. I covered that around 5:25 when talking about marking the neck and then again around 14:40 when I talked about positioning the bridge. I probably should’ve made that more obvious because you’re not the first person to ask that question. 😂 Thanks for checking it out.
i just found this vid and started the project. am i missing somethng, or do you not mention how to attach the strings at the tin end? my strings just have loops.
Thanks for checking out the video. I used ball-end strings and that's why I drill the holes through the neck plank. The ball holds the string from the bottom. If you wanted to use loop-end strings, you could just put small screws in those holes and put the loop over the head of the screw.
@@musicalmiscellany i'll do that. I appreciate the quick reply!
Hi, I inspired to make this instrument. But I wanted to ask exactly what size is that cookie tin? Thanks
This particular tin is about 7.5" in diameter. I wouldn't worry too much about the size of the tin though. Good luck with your project and thanks for watching.
@@musicalmiscellanyThank you for the info and for the encouragement. 😎🎶
Is there any adhesive on the nut?
Thanks for checking out the video. I did not use an adhesive. The pressure of the strings holds the nut in place.
How are the strings attached on the backside?
Guitar strings have a ball on one end (they're often called ball-end strings). As long as the hole your drill is smaller than the ball, the string won't pull through the wood.
@@musicalmiscellany makes sense. Thanks! Inspiring vid
Is there a reason for having only 3 strings? Im asking because 4 seems more intuitive to me but other than that it looks like a fairly simple but fun project. Ive wanted a banjo or tin guitar for ages but banjos are out of my price range and ive only recently found that I'm decent at builds like this so im itching to try anything I can.
There's a lot of debate online on whether 3- or 4-strings is better. I wouldn't say either is superior, they're just different. When it comes to fretted gits, I tend to prefer 4-strings but when it comes to fretless gits, I much prefer 3-string models. That could just be personal preference, so take it with a grain of salt. Regardless, you could just as easily do this as a 4-string build is that's what you wanted. The instructions would be more or less identical, but you'd drill 4 tuner holes and 4 anchor holes.
@@musicalmiscellany awesome. Thanks for taking the time to reply. You did an amazing job on your build by the way, it sounds fantastic.
what metirial to string1,2&3
I don't understand this comment.
Can't play a note but I 8ntend making one of these
Half the fun is building it and half the fun is playing it but just cuz you're new to one doesn't mean you shouldn't do the other. Thanks for watching. I appreciate it.
Why didn’t you place the bridge in the center of the tin? Seems like it ought to work best there?
There are a lot of different hypothesis on this and you can certainly do it that way. It would seem like there would be more resonance at the middle. However the tin is also weakest in the middle, so it will actually produce less resonance. The general consensus is you get the most resonance around 1/3 of the diameter. Obviously... feel free to break those "rules" as you see fit.
I’m sure that the consensus has a lot of weight behind it. I’ll let you know if I find anything different
@@steveatthews3472 There are as many opinions as there are folks but it seems to work for me. To each their own I guess. Thanks for checking out the vid.
The longer the string length improves hitting intonation better with the finger and a better tone overall.
It might just be the camera audio but it sounds heavy, almost like a heavy metal guitar tone mixed with a banjo.
Exactly! That's one of the things I love about it. There's something about the rattly tin (particularly when you strum it hard). It almost sounds like an overdriven electric guitar but it's fully acoustic. So cool. Thanks for checking it out.
Nahh cause I thought that boing at the end was my text tone💀
Thanks for stopping by.
called cb gitty they didnt return my call
I don't work for CB Gitty but I know they're closed holidays and weekends. So if you called outside of business hours, they'll probably call you back on the next business day. If they still don't call, you could try email, support@cbgitty.com
Why the loud music over you speaking? It's completely distracting, and made it impossible to enjoy the video. When I'm after music, I want to hear music- when I'm after a build video, I want to hear the maker talking, not music drowning him out.
I turned the volume way down on the audio track but I guess it may still have been too loud. Thanks for the feedback.
Applying a filter to the low end of the music would help your voice stand out @@musicalmiscellany
That's not a T-square. That's what they call a carpenter's square. A T-square is a drafting tool, and is shaped like a capital "T"
Okay thanks for the disambiguation. I've always heard it called a t-square but I know a lot of things get nicknamed in the shop. EDIT: I looked it up and it's actually called a combination square ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combination_square ). It appears a carpenter's square is something else entirely ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_square ). Evidently we were both using the wrong verbiage. Thanks for the comment though or I probably wouldn't have checked.
Try taking the back off?
You can take the back off if you want. It does make the instrument slightly louder but it also makes the body a bit weaker so it flexes and causes the pitch to warble a bit.