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* The dulcimer is a stringed instrument that was brought to America by early European settlers. It is similar to a zither, but has a trapezoidal shape and is played by plucking the strings with a quill or fingernail.
* The fiddle is a stringed instrument that is similar to a violin. It was brought to America by early European settlers and quickly became a popular instrument for folk music.
* The banjo is a stringed instrument that is believed to have originated in Africa. It was brought to America by slaves and became a popular instrument for blues and jazz music.
* The guitar is a stringed instrument that is believed to have originated in Spain. It was brought to America by early Spanish explorers and quickly became a popular instrument for folk and country music.
Aboriginal Instruments
* The didgeridoo is a wind instrument that is made from a hollow log. It is played by blowing air into one end of the log and vibrating the other end with your hand.
* The bullroarer is a wind instrument that is made from a piece of wood that is attached to a string. It is played by swinging the string around in a circle, creating a loud, humming sound.
* The clap sticks are a percussion instrument that is made from two pieces of wood that are struck together. They are often used in traditional Aboriginal ceremonies.
* The gumleaf is a percussion instrument that is made from a eucalyptus leaf. It is played by holding the leaf between your hands and blowing air into it, creating a whistling sound.
Can You Make Any?
Yes, you can make some of the instruments listed above with simple materials. Here are some instructions:
* To make a dulcimer, you will need:
* A piece of wood (about 18 inches long, 8 inches wide, and 1 inch thick)
* 6 strings (about 24 inches long)
* A tuning peg for each string
* A sound hole (about 1 inch in diameter)
* To make a fiddle, you will need:
* A piece of wood (about 14 inches long, 8 inches wide, and 1 inch thick)
* 4 strings (about 20 inches long)
* A tuning peg for each string
* A bridge
* A tailpiece
* To make a banjo, you will need:
* A gourd (about 6 inches in diameter)
* A piece of wood (about 12 inches long, 4 inches wide, and 1 inch thick)
* 5 strings (about 24 inches long)
* A neck
* A rim
* A head
* To make a guitar, you will need:
* A piece of wood (about 24 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 1 inch thick)
* 6 strings (about 30 inches long)
* A tuning peg for each string
* A bridge
* A tailpiece
* A sound hole
Once you have gathered the materials, you can follow the instructions below to make your own instrument.
Dulcimer
1. Cut the piece of wood to the desired size.
2. Drill a sound hole in the center of the wood.
3. Attach the tuning pegs to the wood.
4. String the dulcimer with the strings.
5. Tune the dulcimer.
Fiddle
1. Cut the piece of wood to the desired size.
2. Attach the tuning pegs to the wood.
3. String the fiddle with the strings.
4. Attach the bridge and tailpiece to the fiddle.
5. Tune the fiddle.
Banjo
1. Cut a hole in the bottom of the gourd.
2. Attach a piece of wood to the bottom of the gourd.
3. Drill holes in the wood for the strings.
4. String the banjo with the strings.
5. Attach the neck and rim to the banjo.
6. Attach the head to the banjo.
7. Tune the banjo.
Guitar
1. Cut the piece of wood to the desired size.
2. Attach the tuning pegs to the wood.
3. String the guitar with the strings.
4. Attach the bridge and tailpiece to the guitar.
5. Drill a sound hole in the center of the guitar.
6. Tune the guitar.