How To Make a Guitar with Kids

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Well… I say “how to make a guitar with kids” and a guitar we did make. But this is a musical instrument craft for kids in the most generous sense – it DOES play different notes (we will try and explain the science behind it for you over on Life At The Zoo), but clearly this will not be an instrument you will learn to play music on.

Musical Instruments
First shared in March 2013

Interestingly, we do have a real kid’s guitar and we now have this toy guitar and Red Ted loves playing with both equally. That, is what I call a result!

To make a this instrument you will need:

  • a container (to help make the sound resonate),
  • elastic bands of varying sizes and thickness,
  • cardboard,
  • a stick,
  • beads (optional),
  • tape and
  • hot glue gun (you may get away without the hot glue gun, but just lots of tape).

How to make a cardboard guitar (with sound)

It was really easy to make. I probably did most of it though (sorry), but the kids were involved in every step of the process and rather excited.

DIY Guitar for Kids

1) Wrap your elastic bands around your container and tape in place, so they don’t slide off whilst playing. Just to reiterate – the plastic container is a great way to help make those elastic bands REALLY resonate and make the guitar more musical.

Cardboard Guitar

2) Cut out a guitar shape from cardboard (we used the flap of a large box), including a hole for the strings.

Guitar Craft

3) Tape your container to the back of your cardboard. Then use a hot glue gun to help secure any remaining edges.

4) Glue your stick to your cardboard (or tape in place). We then added some pony beads as “tuners” to the guitar and glued in place with the hot glue gun.

Kids Guitar Craft

And finished.. can you believe it?

Kids Cardboard Guitar
Cardboard Guitar Craft

Later… our white guitar cardboard proved irresistible and the kids started colouring it in!

Check out our full collection of Musical Instrument Crafts for Kids here:

Musical instrument craft ideas