The How-To Repository for the Cigar Box Guitar Movement!
How to Build and Play Cigar Box Guitars and other Homemade Instruments
Musical styles: Florida Swamp Blues, Mississippi Blues, Old-Time Americana, Originals
Handmade instruments played: cigar box guitar, cigar box fiddle, Lowebow
Ben was raised near the Everglades in Florida with nothing but the blues playing in the house. His grandfather’s influence made certain that Mississippi blues specifically helped to shape the boy’s musical interests.
Continue reading “Ben Prestage”
The tablature in the PDF link below will show you exactly how to play the classic rock song “Blackbird“, written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon and recorded by The Beatles. This tablature is arranged for 3-string Open G “GDG” tuning.
Click on the image above to download the printable PDF document.
All of the cigar box guitar tablature here on CigarBoxGuitar.com is presented by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, your one-stop shop for all things Cigar Box Guitar: Instruments, Kits, Parts, Gear & More.
In this entry we present you a blank tablature sheet for 3-string instruments, including our favorite the 3-string cigar box guitar!
Continue reading “Blank 3-string Cigar Box Guitar Tablature”
Ben “Gitty” Baker brings you a demo as well as Tablature for the Violent Femmes song “Blister in the Sun”
Continue reading “Blister in the Sun by the Violent Femmes – 3-string Open G GDG – Chords & Tablature for Cigar Box Guitars”
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. This is one of the best known of Dylan’s songs, and is a bona-fide folk anthem. It also has a nice easy-to-play melody and chord structure. Continue reading “Blowin’ in the Wind by Bob Dylan – 3-string Open G GDG – Cigar Box Guitar Tablature”
The tablature in the PDF link below will show you exactly how to play the bass line for the classic folk-rock song “Blowin’ In The Wind“, by Bob Dylan. Continue reading “Blowin’ In The Wind By Bob Dylan | 2-String Bass Tablature”
Learn how to play “Blue Christmas” as performed by Elvis Presley on your 3-string Open GDG Cigar Box Guitar. Continue reading “Blue Christmas as performed by Elvis Presley – 3-string Open G GDG – Cigar Box Guitar Tablature”
The tablature in the PDF link below will show you exactly how to play the bass line for the classic Christmas rock song “Blue Christmas“, as performed by Elvis Presley, and written by Jay W. Johnson and Billy Hayes. Continue reading “Blue Christmas Performed By Elvis Presley | 2-String Bass Tablature”
Learn how to play “Blue Eyes Cryin’ in the Rain” by Willie Nelson on your one-string canjo! Continue reading “Blue Eyes Cryin’ in the Rain – Willie Nelson”
Learn a little bit about how Furry Lewis made his first guitar out of a cigar box! Continue reading “Blues legend, Furry Lewis describes his first cigar box guitar”
This melody and rhythm combination is one of the basic building blocks of the blues, and an awful lot of songs have been recorded using it or variations of it. Feel free to make up your own words, and have fun with it! Continue reading “Boogie in G – 3-string Open G GDG – Cigar Box Guitar Tablature”
“Build Me Up Buttercup” is a feel-good rock and roll classic, first recorded by The Foundations in 1980 and covered a number of times since. The four page tablature presented here teaches you how to play both the melody and chords for 3-string cigar box guitars. Continue reading “Build Me Up Buttercup 3-String Cigar Box Guitar Tablature”
If you are looking to expand your cigar box instrument-building repertoire beyond the basic 3 and 4-string cigar box guitars, then consider taking a look at a classic instrument of American folk and roots music: the mountain dulcimer. A unique strummed/plucked instrument that is distinct from the hammered dulcimer, the mountain dulcimer is well suited to building with cigar boxes. In this article, experienced cigar box mountain dulcimer (CBMD) builder Diane from Chicago shares photos and discusses some of her methods for creating these beautiful instruments.
Continue reading “Building Cigar Box Mountain Dulcimers”
In the effort of helping demystify the subject, Ben “Gitty” Baker presents a compilation of his 4-part Fretting series that serves as a step-by-step guide to fretting Cigar Box Guitars and more! Continue reading “C. B. Gitty’s Cigar Box Guitar Fretting How-to Video”
The tablature in the PDF link below will show you exactly how to play the melody and chords for the classic Southern Rock song Call Me The Breeze, written by J. J. Cale and famously performed by Lynyrd Skynyrd. This tablature is arranged for 3-string Open G “GDG” tuning. Continue reading “Call Me The Breeze by J. J. Cale (performed by Lynyrd Skynyrd) – 3-string Cigar Box Guitar Tablature”
For anyone who grew up watching old Looney Tunes Bugs Bunny Cartoons featuring Foghorn Leghorn, this song will be instantly recognizable. Continue reading “Camptown Races – 3-string Open G “GDG” – Cigar Box Guitar Tablature”
