Music: DIY – make music, make instruments
Rock out this summer – DIY learning or even building your own instrument!
Dying to get started on guitar or ukulele or any musical instrument? TPL has the resources for you! Seriously, love the balalaika or dobro? TPL has how-to books on those, too. Tons of instructional videos in a variety of styles and easy-to-follow (very visual) instruction books on how to make chords and get jammin'.
All you need is the instrument and your library card! No instrument? You can make that too!
Make Your Instrument (if you dare): I made a banjo using the "Handmade Music Factory" book and used an old Quality Street candy tin – it turned out pretty OK – but I'm no luthier. Fun!
I also used a ton of library books to learn how to play the banjo. Seriously, all I needed was a cheepie banjo just to get going.
Even Hendrix was self-taught.
Are you learning an instrument on your own?
What are you trying?
What style are you learning?
How is it going?
Get basics and songs from books:
Get the basics from DVDs:
Rock out. Go at your own pace and learn what you want!
6 thoughts on “Music: DIY – make music, make instruments”
I taught myself the harmonica (with the help of a few tips from a neighbour). I hate lessons so it was cool (although it probably took much longer than lessons would) to be able to teach myself to play, and now that I can play the harmonica pretty well I’m so glad that I did!
Awesome! Pretty cool neighbour you have. That’s really cool. I agree, sometimes it’s more fun to figure it out on your own – even though it takes longer. I wish I could do a tune on the harmonica!
I’m slowly learning how to sing this summer. Although I would like to learn how to play an instrument, I think I’ll turn down making one. Sounds interesting, though!
Cool! Singing well is hard stuff. I’ve tried, but I think I have the voice of a cicada. How are you learning how to sing? youtube? lessons? Good luck!!
The idea that you can make your own instruments sounds cool! I am learning how to play the guitar. I have always wanted to learn how to play it. Like many, I find that it is more convenient to learn a new instrument on my own, even though some instruction is needed. So far, it’s been quite good though.
I’m learning guitar too – just teaching myself from books and DVDs from the library – the “acoustic guitar method” (above) is a good one for basic strums, chords, finger picking, etc. I’m also just jamming with friends – who are way better than me – but can show me the right way to tackle the F major chord.
Banjo curious?
My all-time favourite (and I think best) book for learning 5 string banjo is:
The How and Tao of Old Time Banjo – a free eBook:
http://archive.org/details/TheHowAndTaoOfOldTimeBanjo
and to learn songs instantly:
Tim Jumper’s Book:
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM1375110&R=1375110
and for more advanced songs and alternate tunings:
and oldie from the 70s:
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM1128597&R=1128597
happy picking!