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String Instruments Basket
Activity Basket

String Instruments Basket

A gentle first introduction to plucking and strumming with a homemade box guitar and small string toys.

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Ages 3-615 min prep
A tissue box, rubber bands and a cardboard tube — one box guitar.
A tissue box, rubber bands and a cardboard tube — one box guitar.
Plucking one band at a time and listening to the pitch change.
Plucking one band at a time and listening to the pitch change.
The whole string section, ready in the basket.
The whole string section, ready in the basket.

What you'll need

  • A small tissue box or empty cardboard box
  • 4-6 wide rubber bands of different thicknesses
  • A cardboard tube for a guitar neck (optional)
  • A toy ukulele, mini harp, or zither if you have one
  • Tape and safety scissors

How to make it

  1. 1

    If the tissue box has a plastic film, remove it so the hole is open.

  2. 2

    Stretch the rubber bands lengthwise around the box, crossing the opening. Thicker bands make lower sounds.

  3. 3

    Tape the cardboard tube to one short end of the box for a guitar neck, if using.

  4. 4

    Show your child how to pluck each band one at a time and listen to the different pitches.

  5. 5

    Line up the box guitar, ukulele, and any other string toys in the basket like an orchestra.

  6. 6

    Play a simple song together — one plucks the beat, one hums the tune.

Tip

Ask your child which band sounds like a bumblebee and which sounds like an elephant. Naming sounds builds musical ears.