great slide-guitar evangelist Blind Willie Johnson
began on a one-string cigar box guitar. Big Bill Broonzy,
Muddy Waters, B.B. King, and so many others did likewise.
It’s not stretching the point too far to wonder whether the
blues would have developed as they did had it not been for
these homemade instruments. Mike Orr does a wonderful
job of relating this tradition to a new generation of America,
updating some plans to include electric pickups, while still
remaining true to the underlying impulses that gave birth
to the instruments and the music played on them. This
book deftly takes us through the creation of these
instruments so we can find our own connection with these
musical roots.
If the blues tell stories about life experiences revolving
around race, love, and social class, then these instruments
provide the background upon which those stories
were sung.
Robert Johnson’s musical acumen came as a result
of creating his own instrument to simulate the sound
of a guitar. It was that zeal to find solace in music that
comforted his soul as he lived a very transient lifestyle in
rural Mississippi. It is that same zeal that can be shared
through this book.
From L to R
Standing:
Steven Johnson, grandson
of Robert Johnson & VP;
Michael Johnson, grandson
of Robert Johnson &
Treasurer. Seated: Ben
L. Minnifield, VP Global
Marketing & Media; Dr.
Tanya Scott, VP Global
Business Development;
Claud Johnson, son of
Robert Johnson & founder;
Vasti Jackson, Artist &
Musical Director. Painting
by artist Earl Klatzel.
9
String Holes
Resonator
Bridge
Sound Holes
Tone Knob
Volume Knob
About this Book
Anyone can make a musical instrument and play it
—
all
it takes is some basic instruction (which you’re holding
in your hands), some inspiration (I think you’ve already
got that, or you wouldn’t be here!), some simple tools
(you’ve probably got ’em already), and materials (you
can find these at yard sales, swap meets, and even in
the garbage). This book specializes primarily in stringed
instruments, but there are some percussion pieces as
well
—
in fact, there’s everything you need in these pages
to create enough instruments for an entire band!
I’d suggest starting out with the simpler accompaniment
instruments
—
the One-String Washtub Bass (page 20) and
Soup Can Diddley Bow (page 30) are quick and easy
to build, and don’t require many materials at all. The
chapter on stomp and scrub percussion (page 38) will
show you how to make an electrified washboard and
stompbox. After you’ve got those down, venture into
guitar territory
—
use a cigar box or cookie tin to create an
easy-build slide version (page 48, 66). Then, when you’re
comfortable with all the ins and outs of guitar building,
take a crack at creating a more complex fretted guitar
(page 78) or lap steel guitar (page 94). Be sure to visit
the chapter on Electrifying Your Instruments (page 106)
for detailed instructions on adding electricity to the
10
Handmade Music FactorY
Fret Length
Frets
Nut
Tuning
