Building a matchbox guitar

String instruments are the very basis on music in may cultures. In this science project we try to make a miniature string instrument by turning a matchbox into a guitar. It is not quite as difficult as it seems as we will be making a traditional acoustic guitar and not an electronic one.

In the old guitars the sound of music was produced by the vibration of the strings. the sound was then modulated by the hollow body of the guitar. That is why the huge Spanish Guitar was said to have a good sound as the hollow allowed the vibrations to achieve a true note. Now what all will you need to make the matchbox guitar?

A matchbox with its matchsticks emptied out. A set of four rubber bands all of which must have the same length. A small piece of balsam wood that can be used as the bridge of the guitar to give the strings some tension. And we are ready to construct our matchbox guitar. Now place the bridge piece of wood on the empty matchbox and open the matchbox one third of the way.

Put the rubber bands over the matchbox and the bridge and now make the bridge stand vertical to the matchbox. This will bring some tautness in the rubber bands.Now if you need them to be tighter just open the matchbox some more and you are ready to pluck away at the rubber bands and make music. Simple science projects can provide hours of fun.