Home-made maracas!

[Marc]

Following the instructions given at:

http://azaz.essortment.com/musicalinstrume_rhvf.htm

MARACAS  

There are a whole variety of sounds that can come from homemade maracas. Try using different types of containers and noisemakers inside to get some different sounds. Here are some suggestions:  

Containers:  

- Two Dixie cups taped together at the rims  

- Empty water bottle  

- Empty milk bottle  

- Film canister  

Fillers:  

- Rice  

- Beads  

- Sand  

- Pebbles  

- Dried peas  

Experiment with the different fillers until you find one just right. Also, remember to put different amounts of fillers into your maracas, you will get different sounds.  

*******************

Milk bottles don't exist anymore in Canada, so I too milk cartons. The article recommended dried peas, which I didn't have either. So I took frozen peas from the refrigirator. At first, the instrument made an interesting sound; I enjoyed it thoroughly for about an hour and a half. Then, the phone rang and I completely forgot about my new musical instrument for a few days (it lay in the corner of the kitchen). During the week-end, feeling bored, I was drawn to the kitchen by a disagreable odour. It was the milk carton maracas. At first I was happy to see it again, looking forward to hours of musical fun. However, the peas had rotten. And the Milk carton... which I had not cleansed, smelled pretty bad.

Conclusion: don't buy this instrument, even if you're into music.

[john]

Nice one Marc.

[Rudi]

I may try the dried peas in a few of these. Nice tip Marc.

[john]

Hey Marc

Any other home made instrument tips?

Cheers

John

[Rudi]

belly slapping is cheap.

[nigel lawry]

not all off us have a belly ...got ribs tho   :o

[Rudi]

Are you a thalidomide victim Nigel?

[john]

Come on nowm stay on topic, stay on topic...

[Steve]

not all off us have a belly ...got ribs tho   :o

I've got one spare!