The cigar box guitar is a simple chordophone that uses an empty cigar box as a resonator. This free 8page guide will show you all of the steps needed to build your first 3 string slide cigar box guitar. The delta star difference unlike other cigar box guitars out there made from old cigar boxes, we start each guitar by building our own hand made box which is. These cigar box guitar plans and subsequent build was inspired by a blues duo i saw at the dream cafe in penticton, bc several years ago. From the mid 1800s until early 1900s, cigar box and home built guitars have been made by. Im tuned to g, if youre not then ill leave it you to.
From raw blues to rock to sparse soundscape, and everything in between. Thanks go to ed vogel for the original article in make, volume 04. Not for the faint hearted this will be far and away the most comprehensive course on improvisation for 3 and 4 string guitars anywhere in the known universe. The easiest way to make a cigar box guitar youtube. Weeklyhouse cigar box guitar 4 string fretted acoustic electric cbg.
Follow the instructions in this guide to turn a cigar box, a few pieces of wood and some other supplies into a working, four string, fretless guitar, ready to play with a slide. Pdf the cigar box guitar has a long history in the usa, where it formed part of the culture of traditional blues. Cigar box guitar kit 3 string camacho connecticut robusto box, part and neck. The 3string cigar box guitar tablature in the pdf link below will show you exactly how to play the melody and chords for the song blowin in the wind, written and performed by bob dylan. Basic 3string cigar box guitar advanced cigar box guitar secrets crazy tunings for cigar box guitar hot licks and cool tricks for cigar box guitar 4string cigar box guitar how to play diddley bow shane speal songs on cigar box guitar how to build. Welcome to the fun and addic ve world of cigar box guitar cbg building. Cigar box guitars original handcrafted cigar box guitars by mike snowden in his marietta ga shop snowden guitars handmade slide cbg 3 and 4 string guitar. Build your own wooden cigar box guitar plans diy 3 string musical instrument how to build wooden cigar box guitar cigar box guitar plans these plans will step you through the process of building your own cigar box guitar i will email you a pdf to the email address you provided to ebay so you can print them out any size.
The guide makes it easy, outlining all of the parts and tools you will need along with helpful hints on where to get them, and with clear, photoillustrated instructions on how to assemble your instrument. Thus, an american tradition was born, and today, the cigar box guitar is enjoying a folk revival. Unlike a normal six string guitar, cbgs are easy to make, easy to learn and. Shane speal rips the blues through a simple 3string cigar box guitar. The unmistakable characteristic of this guitar is the square or rectangle cigar box body. In this post i will share my cigar box guitar plans for my first punch rare corojo. However, most cigar box guitars are built using a 3 or 4string design. O holy night 4string cigar box guitar christmas tablature. This page has plans for most of the standard guitar scale lengths and also has headstock layout plans too. The plans are in pdf format so make sure you have a copy of adobe reader on your computer. Cigar box guitar page john anthony guitars, luthiers. The matchbook is the first patented pickup designed specifically for the cigar. Are you going to start 4 string cigar box guitar plans pdf. Forward this short ebook will help you play chords on your 3 string guitar.
Build a simple 3string cbg using an empty box, a plank of wood easily found at your local hardware store some strings and tuners. Wooden cigar box guitar plans diy 3 string musical. For my local readers, you already know what a gem the little gypsy heart cafe is. Download our free plans to build a cigar box guitar today. I make it in many different ways and colors, but its always the same a worn and weathered 3 string cigar box guitar with the old timer cigar box label art etched into the pickup cover. Cigar box guitar plans rare corojo cigar box guitar build.
You can use a short 14 bolt, a threaded rod, piece of. Cigar box guitars are just like any other guitar, only much easier to make. The tablature in the pdf link below will show you exactly how to play the melody and chords for the classic christmas song o holy night, written by frenchmen placide cappeau and adolphe adam. Follow the instructions in this guide to turn a cigar box, a few pieces of wood and some other supplies into a working, four string. In this case, here is a complete example of models of carpentry models and feasibility reports that can be used free of charge.
Today, you can find plenty of affordable cigar box guitars for sale that are well built with quality materials, and there are plenty of these classic cigar box guitars for sale on ebay. Cigar box guitar 4 shiny sliver screened grommets sound hole. Wooden cigar boxes, which were solidly constructed connoisseur objects, became a popular choice for the instruments bodies. Cigar box guitars date back to the mid 1800s when folks had plenty of creativity, but not a lot of money. If you have no idea how to start your build, this should be a good starting point so you can build your own fiddle.
This is one of the best known of dylans songs, and is a bonafide folk anthem. Blues and country legends started on them and now a modern resurgence has turned the cigar box guitar into one of the biggest things in music today. The 3 string cigar box guitar tablature in the pdf link below will show you exactly how to play the melody and chords for the song blowin in the wind, written and performed by bob dylan. Step back in time and make the coolest old time instrument ever.
No matter your taste in music, as a musician a three string guitar can add new dimensions to your repertoire. Just a quick post to let you all know that the cigar box guitar plans page is now live. The photos, videos, and mp3s posted by these happy strummers and pluckers were inspiring, and the variety of guitars in the photo galleries was. Tenor guitar plans pdf guitar wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, the guitar is a popular musical instrument classified as a string instrument with anywhere from 4 to 18. Nut the nut is the piece at the top of the neck that holds the strings up at the right height. Build your own 3string, electrified cigar box guitar and make some sweet sounds.
Cigar box guitars project plan cigar box john anthony guitars. This is a fretted 3string acousticelectric cigar box guitar. Thanks go to ed vogel for the original article in make. Tuning, basic fingerpicking, basic picking, holding the slide, vibrato. Making a cigar box guitar june 2009 this is just one mans approach. I tend to stick to three and sixstring cigar box guitars because you need at least three strings to make a chord, and people are comfortable playing sixstring guitars. How to build a cigar box violin with plans by justin c hilts. I soon found cigar box nation, a fantastic online hangout for homemade stringed instrument enthusiasts. Nigs onestring cigar box bass made with a broom handle. If you want to use something other than a socket for the slide, i love the ceramic. Please search for the other plans, articles and videos on the net that are about making a cbg. How to build a primitive lap steel guitar i recently got a hankering to build a lap steel. Fingerstyle in an open g tuning on a 4string cigar box guitar duration.
This is perhaps my trademark guitar or the one that i am most fond of. Our maple neck and fingerboard will fit very well with your cigar box guitar 3 or 4 string. All drawings are in pdf format and can be viewed with adobe reader. New style of electric ukulele comes in 4 different wood species. Generally, the strings are connected to the end of a broomstick or a 1 x 3 inch wood slate and to the cigar box resonator. Advanced cigar box guitar building guide by joshua gayou cigar box guitar. My guitar is a simple, threestringed design that uses only one power tool and common hardware. Cigar box guitars are nothing new but there has been a resurgence in the art of building and playing them. Making musical instruments music instruments cigar box guitar plans uke strings ukulele instrument cigar box projects lap steel guitar guitar neck guitar building. Ok, so lets consider all the requirements to start a wood business. Bigler guitars quality 3 string cigar box guitars and cigar box amps. The lace electric cigar box guitar has a fresh sound, designed for ease of playability delivering rock, alternative, country, blues or jazz music on both the three or four string boxes.