From the page: The can that yields music, cooking and art
Idea 10
Can viola for a weekend project
In the folk tradition of the countryside, violas made from little cans and cigar boxes were built by those who couldn't buy an instrument, and many became family heirlooms. The ten-string viola in pairs (doubled courses) gains extra strength: when two strings tuned together vibrate, the sounds add up and become fuller.
What you need
- A large condensed milk can, clean and dry
- A board or more robust wooden handle (70 to 80 cm)
- 10 used guitar strings, in 5 pairs of similar thickness
- Screws, nuts and washers for the tuning system
- A small piece of hard wood for the bridge and nut (the bar that guides the strings at the start of the neck)
- Saw, drill, sandpaper and strong glue
How to make it
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1
Choose wood without cracks, about the size of a viola neck: the firmer the wood, the less it absorbs the vibration and the more sound reaches the can.
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2
Fix the can to the end of the handle with through bolts and glue, reinforcing the fit — the ten strings create a lot of tension, and the weak point of any can instrument is the neck joint.
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3
Install the tuning pegs (the devices that stretch the strings) in two rows of five, like on a true folk viola, to make tuning easier.
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4
Adjust the nut and the bridge to the right height: strings too high tire the hand, too low they touch the metal and muffle the sound.
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5
String it in pairs, tuning each pair in unison — you'll notice the sound double in volume when the pair comes into sync, because the waves add up.
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6
Play it fingerpicked, like a traditional viola, and keep adjusting until the body of the instrument responds well.
Finishing touches
Varnish or oil the handle with heated cooking oil to finish and protect the wood. If you want a sweeter timbre, try lining the inside of the can with a thin layer of felt or fabric.
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