"Build a One-String Diddley Bow" by Kevin M. Kraft

[@scottsoucy6186]

I've made about 5 or 6 Diddley Bows so far. Some are electric, some are acoustic, all with different gauge strings. When my kids were still in middle school they had a great music teacher. She was really into homemade instruments, so I got to go in and do a couple of demonstrations for the class about Diddley Bows and how to make and play them. I miss those days!

[@kevinmkraft]

That's great!

[@paulberth9008]

Hi Kevin, I m very happy that u explain instruments of your traditional music 👍

[@kevinmkraft]

You are very welcome! Please let me know if you have any questions.

[@49684]

Most easiest how to make a CBG instructional video, I’ve seen on YT so far. Thank you. 😊💪👊

[@kevinmkraft]

You're welcome!

[@electraazteca6002]

Thank you very much for your instruction. You’re very clear at what you do and it’s very enjoyable to listen to you teach and give the project. Thank you for sharing so much.

[@kevinmkraft]

You are very welcome! Thank YOU for your comment!

[@davidhuneycutt7059]

i built one lastyear. I love mine. So much fun

[@christopherch7307]

Thank you for the video. 👍😎👍

[@kevinmkraft]

You bet!

[@delorissamuelson6988]

Thanks for the video!! Hard to believe only 64 comments.

[@kevinmkraft]

Thank you very much! So glad you enjoyed it.

[@krishoogstraat6866]

Lately been watching videos on these cigar box guitars. I like the way you showed your build on this model. Well done sir.

[@kevinmkraft]

Thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed it. I'll be posting even more soon, including some how-to-play videos.

[@marcel_2cv]

Very well done, Sir! I'm now collecting materials and will start to build one as well. 🙂

[@kevinmkraft]

Thanks! Glad you were inspired to do so!

[@congerscott6064]

Excellent video, thanks for posting 👍🏆.

[@kevinmkraft]

My pleasure. Thank YOU!

[@P.EnglishLiterature]

Impressive! I love this! Great one there sir.

[@kevinmkraft]

Thank you!

[@user-wg3pd9kb3b]

Love the music notes on the box. String gauge is a great tip, with your slide weight.

[@lolitawilson4970]

Thank Kevin, I have been practicing make CBG'S and Cigar Box Kalimbas it's coming along fine!!

[@kevinmkraft]

I'm so glad! Say, maybe you'll post a video yourself, huh? I'd love to see youre work.

[@larzhillbot1443]

Very good beautiful build.....High five to ya

[@kevinmkraft]

Thanks so much!

[@emilyefinke]

This is impressive! The sound on that guitar is amazing. It's so unique. No wonder you love making and playing them so much. It was so fun to watch you build this. Thanks for sharing it!

[@kevinmkraft]

Thanks, Emily!

[@49684]

I’ve actually turned my Ukulele tenor into a fret less diddley bow. I use a low G string tuned to open G. 😊💪👊

[@sandrapritchard6035]

Brilliant Kevin, my hands can no longer handle chords so this DIDDLEY BOW of yours mike make me perk up a bit and get back into music, thanks Kevin great info, all the best from Liverpool England xx.

[@kevinmkraft]

Thanks, Sandra! It means a lot to get your message! I'm glad to have inspired your ongoing interest in music. Let me know if you have any questions.

[@tobiasmeister5313]

Thanks for the inspiration. Loved your video. Now I have to build one myself. Cheers and stay safe.

[@kevinmkraft]

Thanks, you too!

[@cocoelyssesofficial]

I would LOVE to get the one you’re making ✨❤️✨❤️✨❤️❤️✨❤️🙏🏽✨🙏🏽✨🙏🏽✨❤️❤️❤️✨❤️✨❤️‼️

[@birdwoodcbgs71]

Great video Kevin

[@kevinmkraft]

Thank you!

[@brianr.hartmann327]

Great video! Thanks

[@kevinmkraft]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@brianr.hartmann327]

@@kevinmkraft I finished my diddley bow, it's a two string. Awesome!

[@kevinmkraft]

@@brianr.hartmann327 Excellent!!! Congratulations, man. I hope the information I provided helped at least a little. Technically, though. A diddley bow is a single-string instrument. So, what you have is a two-string guitar. :) Hey, if you wouldn't mind, can you email me a pic of you and your new instrument (or just the guitar if you're camera-shy) and I'll post it on my website! If so, send to [e-mail]

[@Professorvapes]

good vid bud

[@kevinmkraft]

Thank you!

[@lolitawilson4970]

I'm glad to see your video!! I've made a few instruments from youtube!

[@kevinmkraft]

Thank you, Lolita!

[@lucabrasi8420]

Great tutorial

[@kevinmkraft]

Thanks!

[@lraffucci]

im going to start building one today. but i cant find a cigar box, so i am just going to make a small box.

[@kevinmkraft]

That's the ticket! I admire anyone with such skills. Let me know if you have any questions, OK?

[@brandydarling1]

Thanks for making this knowledge accessible to the beginner. Can you tell me what tools I need to complete this?

[@kevinmkraft]

Check out this page on my website, and if you still have questions, I'm always accessible to ask them. www.kevinmkraft.com/new-page-1

[@russellrader8786]

That's very nice. I've mad 3 diddley bows so far. What I could use some advice on is marking out the diatonic scale on one as I'm actually not that musically inclined. Any thoughts on this?

[@kevinmkraft]

This fretboard-marking template might help: file:///C:/Users/kmkra/Downloads/making-poor-mans-guitars-23-inch-fret-scale-template.pdf

[@kevinmkraft]

Print it off at 100% scale and use it to mark your diddley bow.

[@russellrader8786]

@@kevinmkraft Thank you very much. Have a great day.

[@kevinmkraft]

@@russellrader8786 You're very welcome!

[@songoftheblackunicorn666]

I am a violin fiddle player who has alot of exposure to dulcimer. I am facinated and want to do this. I have a question about the cigar box. How does the sound change depending on the soundbox hole placement and the size and shape of your holes could you do this with hand tools and a gourd I wonder. Would love your thoughts on this. I can sing and violin just doesn't accommodate singing well or really at all so while I would love to try nickleharpa the fiddly bow sounds like I could get into it a lot faster and easier and if I build it right I could even use an aisian or psalter bow on it.

[@kevinmkraft]

Thanks! Glad you reached out. 1) As far as sound holes are concerned, while it isn't too complicated, the position and size of the hole in relation to the size of the box will determine where and how loudly the size emerges, like any chordophone, including gourd instruments. Gourds and cigar boxes and cans--they're all resonating chambers, just made of different materials. 2) You can use certainly use a diddley bow to accompany yourself as you sing, and I encourage you to build one and do so. But if you're adventurous, I suggest you become familiar with the three-string cigar box guitar slide guitar? 3) The three-stringer is very similar to, say, the Japanese shamisen. Look up both and they look quite similar. And they are even tuned the same way. They are both fretless and require a good ear, like the violin. Anyway, let me know if you have any more questions. And I wish you well on your musical journey.

[@songoftheblackunicorn666]

@@kevinmkraft thank you for your time and attention. I think since I will be developing my technique I will stick to one string for now and play around with different size holes and hole positions as well as try a psalter bow if I can find one i CA always build a three string version later. But the other thing I will work on is figuring out how it will strap or sit in place while I do the bowing fingering and singing all at once

[@kevinmkraft]

@@songoftheblackunicorn666 Excellent! Yes, I saw a video of your playing the fiddle. Very nice! I'm currently learning the cello now. Do let me know how you proceed and if I can help in any way. Playing a diddley bow WITH a bow is intriguing to me. I have experimented with using the bow that came with my cello on my diddley bow, and it can work. You might be able to hold the diddley bow similarly to how one holds an erhu. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZfHd3p7nJJsiJo

[@lolitawilson4970]

Do you have a video of a canjo?

[@kevinmkraft]

Unfortunately, no. I have not built a canjo yet.

[@lolitawilson4970]

@@kevinmkraft It's the same as the Diddley Bow, just substitute it with a Can.

[@kevinmkraft]

@@lolitawilson4970 Oh, yes, I am familiar with them. Just never built one. I should, though, one day.

[@cocoelyssesofficial]

Do you sell them

[@kevinmkraft]

I do indeed. The price would depend upon how many strings (1, 2 or 3) and whether or not you want to be able to plug it into an amplifier. If you're interested, please email me at [e-mail], and I can give you more information and answer any more questions you have.

[@kevinmkraft]

I actually, just got your email over at aol! I can respond to your inquiry there.