How to Build and Play Cigar Box Guitars and other Homemade Instruments
Here’s another new how-to article by Ben “Gitty” Baker: how and why to use strap buttons on your cigar box guitar! Strap buttons (along with a guitar strap) are a great addition that help an instrument appeal to performing musicians. If you aren’t using them, read this article to find out why you should!
To pick up some quality strap buttons on the cheap, head over to C. B. Gitty and check out their selection!
We just published a new how-to article in our knowledgebase here on CigarBoxGuitar.com! This article, written by Ben “Gitty” Baker, walks you through the basics of using sealed-gear tuners.
Ben covers some of the different styles and varieties, as well as how to mount them correctly. This is one of our “foundation” series of articles that cover some of the basic building blocks of cigar box guitar building, and we hope that it helps you in your own building!
For great deals on sealed-gear tuners, be sure to check out the selection over at CBGitty.com!
Shane Speal shows us how to play the pretty little riff in his song, Late Autumn Longshadow from the album, Empty Wooden Box. You will need a slide cigar box guitar, 3 strings tuned GDG.
Shane Speal examines the art of scarcity… reducing the number of notes played in a song for maximum impact. In this video, he uses his 3-string slide cigar box guitar to show how less notes equals more power.
Shane finishes his Diddley Bow series by encouraging you to develop your ear. Check it out!
Cigar Box Nation TV takes a tour through the www.CBGitty.com workshop at the height of Black Friday/Cyber Monday preparation! Cigar box guitars are on the bench and instrument kits are being produced via laser CNC machine. Interviews with Farley, Glenn, Nick and Jason, too.
Shane Speal continues his Diddley Bow lesson series by showing the riffs from his song, 16 Miles to Saltsburg. Originally played on a 2×4 diddley bow, Speal uses a one string cigar box guitar for this video lesson.
Ben’s ready to mosey into the sunset with a few cowboy songs performed on his cigar box guitar and the Gittylele Kit. Also, Daniel Hulbert of Circuits & Strings gives a full building demo of the Gittylele.
Shane Speal continues his diddley bow lesson with a one-string take on Muddy Waters’ “I’m a Man” riff.
It was another “Friday in Shane’s Shed” episode of Cigar Box Nation TV, this time with Shane Speal showing off his upcoming instruments and playing a little on his test guitar. He showed off the Psycho Knob distortion unit (linl) and the Snake Oil Mini Humbucker Pickup (link), too.
Shane Speal dials in some otherworldly scales and sounds in this cigar box guitar improv. The guitar is tuned in open A (AEA) and is run through quite a few effects. Enjoy!
Shane Speal approaches the diddley bow with a very instinctual approach. He’s all about using his ears to find the notes. In this lesson, he shows the importance of the Magic Note on his one-string cigar box guitar.