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Comment by Diane in Chicago on October 19, 2010 at 7:42am

We need a avatar photo! Who's got one to offer up?

Comment by Diane in Chicago on October 19, 2010 at 7:41am

I'm working on a diatonic build for small children with 3-strings, diatonic frets and nylon uke strings. I'll post up when I get the gauges figured out. I'm trying to work off a standard $3 uke set. I like GHS, because they are cheap and jet black - scoring points with the 10yo crowd - boy or girl.

Comment by J-Hob on June 5, 2010 at 11:10am

Great links Diane! I learnt a lot there, getting very interested in this Diatonic idea, certainly one that I will pursue after I've made my first 3 string CBG. I'm thinking possible Christmas presents for my neice and nephew... and something for myself! Cigar box instruments are so great - the ability to cheaply design and build almost any stringed instrument you can imagine, and so much fun!

Comment by Diane in Chicago on June 5, 2010 at 1:54am

Also, Wichita Sam held a workshop with kids where they built 3-string blues-stick instruments, (open tuning, blues scale only) which you can learn more about here: http://handmademusic.ning.com/group/dulcimervillage/forum/topics/bl...

and here:

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/group/dulciworld/forum/topics/fret-sp...

Comment by J-Hob on June 4, 2010 at 9:22pm

Larry - be great if you can post some pics or video of your creation once complete!

Comment by Diane in Chicago on June 4, 2010 at 3:42pm

There are lots of examples of one-string can-diddleys out there, some with frets and some without. Can-Joe is a member here, and his are really nice. Also Darren "Big Daddy" Dukes has made some.

Comment by Larry McInnes on June 4, 2010 at 3:08pm

I just wrapped up three 3/4 scale guitars for three siblings. I used light guage steel strings and tuned to CGC, they seemed like they had a pretty light action. I also only installed the frets for the major scale. The boxes are Ashtons, pretty heavy duty wood, and I even reinforced the inside corners. I'm still preparing myself to make repairs in the future.

Comment by J-Hob on June 3, 2010 at 3:28am

Nylon strings are a good suggestion, I'd not really thought about that. A 3-string is also a good idea - at first you could just get them playing around with a melody on the bottom string in an open tuning, perhaps highlighting the 4th and 5th intervals.

A one string diatonically fretted diddley bow would be even simpler. I wonder if playing frets or with a slide would be easier? Or is there another option not yet considered?

Comment by Diane in Chicago on June 3, 2010 at 12:59am

For a tiny beginner, I'd say a 15" diatonic 3-string is the best starting place, with nylon strings if possible. Harder to keep in tune, but easier on the fingers. I don't know about gauges on that, though, but a uke set would be a good place to start.

I only used nylon strings once, on a tin build, and the sound was not great, so I switched to steel. But might be time for some more experimentation!

Comment by J-Hob on June 2, 2010 at 8:44pm

The other week I was teaching a 5 year old girl to play the ukulele and it struck that even with the uke's diminutive size it was hard for her to hold the uke up and to get her small hand around the neck.

That got me thinking along the lines of building instruments specifically designed for children that would be easy and fun for them to play. Factors I have thought about being important are things like

* size,
* ease of holding/playing,
* number of strings,
* diatonically fretting,
* Clearly marking important intervals (4th, 5th)
* hard wearing

Basically, the creation of instruments that can make the barrier for kids to get into music as low as possible - getting them hooked early so that they hopefully stay hooked and making it easy for them to make a pleasant sound given minimal guidance.

I'm also expecting my first baby later this year and am keen to find the best way to allow the bairn to discover making music naturally.

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