Building a Homemade Music Box (Christmas Gift)

STEPS OF PROCESS ARE AVAILABLE IN VIDEO DESCRIPTION.
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Hi friends! In this tutorial video, I explain how I built my homemade music box, improving my design from last year's prototype model. The entire process cost me about 50 dollars and took about 5 days to build. I hope this video inspires you to make your own music box this holiday season!
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Steps:
1. Buy the "DIY Music Box Kit" from amazon, here: amzn.to/2zf0at7
(this is an affiliate link)
2. Plan the structure you'd like your music box to be. I'm working with these designs: photos.app.goo...
The extra space is for extra storage (in my case, hiding a book)
3. Now that you have a drawing, you need to do some calculations to figure out the dimensions of each piece of wood. Length x width x height. Draw a schematic (a blueprint like you saw in the first few images of the link in #2.) You might want to visit a local hardware store and find out the dimensions of the wood they have available before you do this step.
4. Now work on notating your music onto the paper strip with the hole puncher. Generally shorter songs work best--the longer the song, the more paper you'll have to have rolled up into your final box, so be wary of that. I also found that if you're working on transcribing a pop song, the chorus works best for this kind of project. Be warned: the music box only plays in the diatonic key of C (no sharps/flats!), so you'll have to transpose your piece to that key in order to write them onto the paper strip! The first thing you should do when you have a solid idea of how to write the piece (given the key signature and 2 octave limitation of this particular paper strip) is to begin your notation on the paper strip **with pencil**. When that's finished, you should check for errors in timing and pitch. Then, hole-punch your pencil markings. If you notice a mistake in your transcription after you've finished, don't worry! The DIY product comes with 4 or 5 paper strips that you can use to try again. Alternatively, you can plug any incorrect hole(s) with a bit of tape on both sides of the paper.
5. Alrighty, the hard part is over! Go to a local hardware store and buy the wood; they'll cut it in-store if you ask. Note: avoid the nonholistic wood--it splinters too easily. Then buy all the accessories (wood glue, paint/wood stain, hinges, and wood screws for the hinges. The box-cover handle and sandpaper are optional). After cutting the wood pieces to size, use sandpaper to sand down wood's edges a little and clean them to encourage an even coat when you go to color the wood with paint or stain.
6. Assemble! Use wood glue to hold pieces together. Let dry overnight. It took me about 2 days because Lowes' cutting isn't precise, and I needed to make a few minor adjustments with my sandpaper during assembly to get all the walls to fit together nicely. In addition, I needed to carve out the hole for the music box's hand-crank. Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of last year's assembly, but the first step is to attach the metal part of the box to the wood base itself--for this, you may want to use some wood screws you can get at a local hardware store. The ones provided have a flat tip rather than the pointed tip you need to secure a firm hold. You've gotta make sure that everything's going to fit before you then permanently screw and glue all the pieces together.
7. If not already done, insert your music strip paper with the completed song, cut and carefully taped in a loop so that it plays continuously.
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Final Product:
davidrussell323...
Here's a recording of the song on soundcloud:
/ summer-hearts-musicbox
Link to last year's music box:
• Homemade Music Box (Ch...
Link to my original piano composition of this song:
• Summer Hearts (Origina...
...and it's Revisitation:
• Summer Hearts | Revisi...
------------------------------
Thanks for watching, friends! If you have any further questions, feel free to write me a comment below the video or on any of my social networks! I just came home for Christmas break yesterday, so I'm going to try to have a whole bunch of new piano videos for you before Christmas day. I hope to record two or three of them this weekend, so look forward to that!
--David
Stay in touch!
/ davidrussell323
/ www
/ davidrussell323

[@allisonsmith9343]

This man is very wholesome

[@littlelily716]

So lovely! Now I feel like making my own music box by my self, too!

[@justmonaca8520]

still can't find a video on how to make the music. all I've found is how to make a box.

[@DavidRussell323]

The music strip is laid out exactly like sheet music--if you know how to read and write sheets, the strip should be okay. If you have a tune in mind, you can commission someone (a local pianist... or myself!) to write the thing for ya!

[@InvisibleLovatic]

DavidRussell323 is there a way I can make those myself instead of commissioning somebody?

[@deletedemail165]

Flowey same1

[@cryobooty]

In KZbin there is a man, who channel is called Wintergatan. He made a video "how to program a music box- hole punch tutorial" and it is really helpful, btw look up his Marble Maschine, it is really cool. ^*^

[@callumissocoollikf]

Theres a DIY kit on ebay for about 15 quid

[@xionmemoria5939]

Oooh that's genius! And expert craftsmanship! I'd like to try this as well, and add a very thin, removable tray over the music box portion. Both to hide it and to have room for flat things like necklaces, rings, and change.

[@honeyalien7063]

OH MY GOSH THANK YOU you have no idea how helpful this is!!!!! I really want to make my friend a homemade music box for her birthday and I've been looking everywhere on how to do it! This is such a special gift :)

[@DavidRussell323]

+Chaille Snyder It's super satisfying when you finally finish the project too. Good luck!

[@scrainbow1234]

Dude, this is incredible! I've been looking EVERYWHERE online but everything is either gimmicky or super expensive. There's no in between. Thank you for the effort and all of the ideas.

[@brettleverette]

Can't wait to make one for a christmas gift!

[@Qeisama]

I'm watching many DIY music box to make for my bestfriend parting gift and your box is very interesting! You gave me this idea to give the two compartments box with music and A5 illustrations all self-made. Thank you!

[@deathrattle3]

That song was BEAUTIFUL. The rough draft was CUUUTE!

[@DavidRussell323]

deathrattle3 ^_^

[@marsbars1599]

this is incredibly helpful, gave me good insight as i plan to make six’s music box from little nightmares

[@skacotar]

I can finally replicate the As The World Falls Down music box from Labyrinth! Thank you for this video

[@TheLychie]

Omg this is sooooo cuuutee!!!! That person youre giving it to is lucky to have a friend like you

[@shawnafitzsimmons1852]

You ought to be so proud of this. I think this is absolutely beautiful. Such nice work! This must make such a wonderful gift. Thank you for sharing.

[@danursin]

Great video. It was helpful to see some of the imperfections along the way to see what kind of challenges I might encounter.

[@foreverme1012]

beautiful music box and thanks for telling where you get the comb and stuff from great tutorial.now i know how to create my own.

[@FivaCuza]

That's a really nice project, thanks for sharing

[@cheliae8560]

That was BRILLIANT!!!

[@DavidRussell323]

That's wonderful! When I first began the prototype for this project last year, I scoured the internet for customizable windup box part, but I was unsuccessful. So that's why I went with the DIY one from thinkgeek. Best of luck to you on this project if you decide to take it on, and I hope for you and your sister's success at college!

[@myapologiesmsgirl]

finally.... i have the power to repilcate the music box from Labyrinth... although i dont know how i'd do the music, im sure i can figure it out thanks for this extremely helpful tutorial!

[@maryh180]

Hi! Thanks for this video; it's really helpful! But how can I join the ends of the paper strip? And can I cut a piece of the strip if I have too much for my song (it's short)? (sorry for my English)

[@DavidRussell323]

+Mary H Hi! I just used tape to attach both ends to each other. And you can absolutely cut the strip short if you have too much--just be sure that it still makes a loop!

[@danielaramirez503]

Dude, I know this video is hella old, but I logged into my ancient KZbin account just to say thanks for posting, of course, but also that this is such a rad video! I love the song, and I love how mellow you are throughout the video Hahaha. I was like "oh no!!! The screws [on the hinges]!!" And you were nonchalantly like "I know how I'm going to fix that though." NBD. lol. Great video! Turned out nice!

[@DavidRussell323]

lol thanks a bunch!

[@eliaspelozato174]

Thanks for the tutorial ! Very nice ! Could you make a video showing how the mechanism that "reads" the sheet? Closer show how the "comb" and "drum" relate?

[@yeojastan4448]

Impressive! So you manually turn the handle? Is there a way to make it just a wind-up box? One turn and the tunes play continuously

[@adara9l]

The sweetest Christmas gift I've ever seen

[@DavidRussell323]

Not a stupid question at all! Well, you see, the metal part is the device that physically plays the music--the paper tells the metal which notes to play. The metal part consists of a two-octave C scale. By punching specific holes into the paper strip, you can write your own music for the metal part to play. The sound is amplified when the metal is connected to the wood. Did that answer your question?

[@popegirls174]

this is the best one I've seen I love the music and what topped it of was giving it an old timey look great job!!

[@SabrinaCrumpler]

Omg, I love the song that you made for this music box. Good job

[@KanotoyOfficial]

OMG That sneezing caught my attention, very good tutorial right there and beautiful music big brothers!!

[@daniella5636]

THANK YOU really wanted to make my own and oculd not figure it out this is AWSOME

[@DavidRussell323]

Daniella Lacroix Happy to help!

[@jaredplaysaccordion7965]

Great work! Will definitely give this a shot (with your help)

[@xpromise510]

Yes it did! Quick reply too, and thanks! Unfortunately that website doesn't sell it anymore D: I don't see it ._. But I am hoping to buy one somewhere and make a sheet. Altho I'm wondering how hard it is to craft the music onto one sheet.

[@pumpkinylvester7884]

Hey your really good at making a music box i was so shock that I said I wish to make my own music box but I have not experience init so can you please make me one with a soft year gentall and deep with sweet tune like the forest but with pure heart in it with love.

[@thetommycox]

I think I'm going to have to go for this sometime soon. Seems like a fun project!

[@DavidRussell323]

+Tommy Cox Do it!

[@hathakleen]

This is the coolest thing. I was actually thinking of getting one of those music box kits but then I missed the shipping deadline for holiday stuff and I didn't feel like making an order if it didn't have gifty-type things in it. Another time I guess! I really want to make one now too! It turned out very well. :)

[@NurIbrahimTikko]

That songs reminds me something similar like Harvest Moon OST or Suikoden 2 OST, that in there describe summer/spring song theme. sooo beautiful!

[@jklapmeyer]

well done, very impressive on it all

[@sparkknight7618]

Thanks for this, gives me a good idea how to start. :)

[@sparkknight7618]

+Spark Knight also your personality makes it enjoyable.

[@katch33]

:) That was a great video, it was really nice seeing how you put it all together and it's a fantastic gift idea. Great job man!

[@polinafomenko4426]

David, you are amazing. Thank you for the video!

[@DavidRussell323]

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@NargX3]

thanks so much your tutorial was insightful i don't think you put to many steps in it by the way :D thx so much

[@kmankool920]

I absolutely LOVED this (I may make my own for my grandmother if I can find the kit) Just wondering how did you make the effect with the paper, in order for it to look older.

[@DavidRussell323]

Good luck--this is a fun project to put together! To make the paper look old and worn, I finger-rubbed it with artists' charcoal dust and a bit of pencil graphite. Then I wiped off the excess with a cotton pad and a bit of isopropyl alcohol

[@kmankool920]

Thanks :)

[@gleekflaglue6345789]

great job - nice touch on handle design

[@DavidRussell323]

I believe for this box it was Red Mahogany. But in the past, Red Chestnut and Dark Walnut have worked very well for me as well

[@juneaiko3487]

This is great! I'm actually struggling on how can I make a customized music box playing my favorite song. I'd like to try this. But unfortunately I'm not a musician, I can't read notes. I'm so sad. 😔

[@zouzaki98]

Hey, I loved your music box! I want to make one with my own music, but I don't know where I can find the mechanism to buy it. Could you please send me a link?

[@DavidRussell323]

description!

[@WaltzMooreAna]

Screw the books I was going to give, I am making this for my BFF ^0 ^. Awesome job you did on that box mate!

[@DavidRussell323]

good luck!

[@epitomeofcake132]

Thanks for the tutorial! Would you know if there's a tutorial on how to properly hole punch the notes in?

[@DavidRussell323]

+PenguinHQ Hm, I couldn't say. But punching the holes is literally like writing sheet music--there are vertical lines intended to separate the eighth notes, and each of the pitches are written on the paper. There are also instructions on how to do it included in buying the musical metal thing. If you know how to assign pitch and rhythm to the piece you want to write, you should be good to go!

[@epitomeofcake132]

DavidRussell323 Okay, thanks!

[@evanjollyine6846]

wow.. it sounds so beautiful~~ thank you soo much for the tutorial :) keep up the beautiful work~

[@blacksailorshooter9381]

very thoughtful

[@thesweetscentofplum]

Wow, you are really creative!

[@moonchiimes]

i want to make a music box so i can put memory from undertale in it bc i'm absolutely in love with that song 😁😁

[@DavidRussell323]

+Aries Brown Gotcha covered! kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2epmYepg8uCrrM

[@moonchiimes]

+Blu_Universe_Sounds great minds think alike 👌🙈

[@carmenmiguelblas7050]

same tbh

[@ethanmcqueen3548]

+just an average potato who does stuff i guess me to... ;-;

[@tia4352]

I literally came here for the same reason

[@sarai_flakes7031]

I love it! So creative

[@Jackbkwiq]

Super cool, dude! I want one

[@erissummer3562]

Hi, excellent music sheet. I am trying to find a software to compose a music and input the data and print out on the music sheet to punch holes. May I know what software did u use?

[@DavidRussell323]

ey, I used Finale, but Musescore and Lilypad are free alternatives

[@deaddragon498]

Thank's so much for this video :D! I've been searching everywhere for something like this! It helped a lot :3

[@DavidRussell323]

My pleasure!

[@auxhead]

This is wonderful. I love this!

[@AudeGift]

:3 That's so awesome! I want to cuild a music box that has a wind up key rather than a spinny handle thing, but I'm not sure how to. With this video I have a good idea of how you made yours, though, so I might just make one with a handle since I dont have a lot of time left before I want it to be done. My twin sister and I are both graduating from high school this year, and we'll be going to colleges that are states apart, and I want her to have something that she can remember me by

[@abigailcatherine2794]

what thickness of wood did you use for this? :00 im trying to make one for my best friend but i have no idea what kind of wood to get!

[@DavidRussell323]

Bases were 1/2 in., walls were 1/4! Feel free to double each if ya want--with 1/4 walls, you may have to trim the nails that would otherwise poke through

[@gabby6818]

This is simply wonderful! Great job man!

[@markalmond8091]

Hi David, Thank you for this video. Was very well put together and a lovely musical piece. I have a question regardign the musical script you wrote. Is it readily available? As in if I were to ask for a script to be written and posted could we arrange a skype session to talk about it? I of course will pay!

[@sesquipedalian6632]

Out of curiosity, how well does the paper hold up over time? I used to find the pin drum kits, which are preferable, but I haven't seen any for sale anywhere recently. I'm trying to save time by avoiding grinding down and re-pinning an old cylinder, but I'm skeptical about the longevity of the paper.

[@DavidRussell323]

As far as I can tell, it hold up well! It's a laminated paper that withstands water and casual withering. To make the dirty effect on this one, I rubbed the paper with charcoal and isopropyl alcohol, which seemed to not affect the strength of it whatsoever

[@mahtabarzpeyma2929]

excuse me... would you tell me about the software you use to save and capture the notes of your song? what is the name of that?

[@DavidRussell323]

I took some charcoal chalk, shaded the paper a bit, and wiped the excess off with an alcohol wipe

[@EthanVillanueva]

I'm no good at reading music nor creating it. I mostly just play by ear which works just fine but it's difficult when I wanna do something like this cause I don't know which notes are what and what to put on which line. I'm trying to write a song for a girl whom I like very much for her birthday. Do you think you can do a video on how to make music for music boxes? Like punching the holes in the paper and stuff and what sounds good? Idk

[@DavidRussell323]

Ooh man, it will be difficult for you if you don't have much experience reading sheet music. Making the music on the paper strip is literally exactly like writing sheet music, except instead of a pencil and two piano staves, you have a hole-puncher and a treble clef XD A few people have personally messaged me on my facebook page asking for help on notating a specific song, but I don't think I'll have the time to make a video explaining how to write down the notes. If you'd like to message me about the specifics of your project, I might be able to give more helpful advice! But the stuff you're looking to learn--where to punch certain holes and what would sound good with what--would take...unfortunately...quite a bit of time. I suggest you try finding a local musician (such as a church music director, a school music teacher, or someone who works in a music store), explaining your song idea by playing it for him or her, and asking if he or she would be willing to help you out a bit with the notation. They might be willing to notate your song and you could punch it out! Anyone who has experience reading sheet music and/or arranging or composing songs should be able to help you out, no problem. Best of luck, and please feel free to drop me another message if you want some specific help!

[@EthanVillanueva]

Thanks man! You're the best

[@Zephrotet]

Love your MUN poster

[@mandy121967ify]

Hello, excuse me, can you please make a video were you show how you glued two pieces of paper together? Thanks! :D

[@DavidRussell323]

Hey! One piece of paper^^ I just simply cut the excess paper and taped the ends once I threaded the strip through the metal part.

[@juliarosas2294]

That is super cute...thank you for sharing! :)

[@pbft.j]

That's beautiful!

[@skippy3585]

That's a beautiful box! Who did you give it to? I want one! ;)

[@fdc313]

David, I have no musical background & am 58 years old, I have the music box composer and a 30 note player, is there any type of sheet music that would let me easily & without too much of a learning curve compose songs? Thank you..

[@DavidRussell323]

The way the sheet music strip works in these music boxes is just the same as regular sheet music with the lines scrunched together. See 1:10, the lines on the music strip correspond to ledger lines on a piece of sheet music. If you have a song that you want to compose onto the strip, you can take the sheet music, turn it sideways, and make holes corresponding to the symbols on the sheet music. The trouble I see is knowing how much space to give each hole you make, and how the space corresponds to the timing of the note. If you're up for the challenge, you should understand the timing values we give to notes, and that can be learned here: www.instructables.com/id/7-Steps-to-Learn-How-to-Play-Piano/step5/Music-Notes-and-Timing/ or on any basic music theory text you can find online. Alternatively, if you take the song sheet music that you would like to have transcribed onto your music box strip to a local church pianist or a local piano teacher at a highschool or university, he or she will be able to help you. If your strip is advertised as a 30 note player, I think it's two octaves of chromatic notes, just like a piano. so that makes it easy: you just have to be sure you tell the person "Can we reduce this sheet music to two octaves and transcribe it to C?" and "consider each vertical line to be worth an eighth note. Each line corresponds to 1/8 of a beat. Do you think you can help?" They might want some kind of compensation, but maybe not! If you take the chorus of a song you're interested in transcribing, the process of drawing the notes onto the strip and hole-punching them out takes about 30 minutes. Good luck!

[@monynice89]

that's amazing,can you please make a video on how to make the holes on the paper which makes music comes out? and where do i buy the object which has a wheel to but the paper on it?

[@DavidRussell323]

Thanks! The paper, hole punch, and the metal piece all come from www.amazon.com/Kikkerland-Make-Your-Own-Music/dp/B000HAUEFY that I talked about in the very beginning of the video. Now, if you can read sheet music, you will be able to punch the holes into the paper strip to any song you want. The first thing to do is notate out the melody in C major, condensed to two octaves. Unfortunately, making a video for this process would be tedious and unnecessary because I think that the only people who would need it are people who wouldn't have the musical knowledge to make the music box anyway. If you need any specific help though, do feel free to come prod me on my davidrussell323 facebook (linked in the description)

[@monynice89]

DavidRussell323 thanks alot for replying back,i can play piano a little and guitar also,but im better at guitar,i cant read music perfectly,but i can decide if its do or re or mi,not in a professional way though,will it still be hard for me to learn? is it so complicated to change from the normal music sheet to paper sheet of the music box?

[@DavidRussell323]

monynice89 It is exactly the same. The strips on the paper is lined just like standard sheet music :)

[@eieyzaa]

monynice89 If you are not quite confidence about your reading note skill, I recommend you try your note in this website first: musicboxmaniacs.com/ it's pretty a useful site^^

[@monynice89]

Bhapapath Visutvatanasak oh thanks alot XD you're so kind

[@taimaaa4737]

How did you do the effect on the paper?😅

[@howaboutno_band]

If I wanted to make the same thing but only much smaller, would I need to purchase a different kit? I want to make one for someone but it has to be maybe the size of a large jewelry box.

[@DavidRussell323]

+Jeremy Schofield I'm afraid that I was kinda limited by the size of the thinkgeek.com metal part. I suppose that you could make a very small melody that doesn't require much paper sticking out!

[@blondybecca6983]

Love this! Keep up the good work handsome

[@gabbicitad]

WOW love it! thanks for sharing :)

[@JFLlorach97]

Hi David, really nice. I'm trying to buy the DIY Music Box Kit but i can't find it anywhere, can you help me? (I've visited thinkgeek.com but wasn't there...:(

[@TheFlyingKiwyGirl]

Idk who received it, but I would've loved it

[@m.x9476]

Whoa, is that a United Nations logo background? Nice, dude!

[@danielporter3716]

I was looking in to making one of these and had a question; Is there any problems with it looping?

[@DavidRussell323]

No problems as long as you tape it correctly!

[@tinmanlobster]

you gotta be a man of many talents to make one of these lol

[@dustyshows1225]

Dude, it is amazing work! nice to see such a great video! thanks =)

[@anthonylowney1395]

lovely

[@melody5671234]

could you please tell me how the timing and labeling work on the strips? I really want to make one :)

[@DavidRussell323]

Sure! It depends on how fast you crank the handle, of course, but I treat each vertical line as an eighth note, and I composed the song to fit those restrictions. Since the thing is only a 2 octave C Major system, the notes start from the bottom of the strip at C3 and continue up (D3 E3 F3 ... etc with no black keys up to C5). You label the notes you want to be played by notating the strip on the cross-hairs and consequently punching out the holes so that the metal pins can sound :D (The sound is amplified when the metal device is screwed onto a wood block and allowed to resonate, which is why it works perfectly for a wooden music box) Keep in mind that you can modify the timings however you see fit, though! For example, when you buy the strip+metal device, there is an already pre-punched "Happy Birthday" song included. From it, you can see that a few times, there are chords that sound like arpeggios die to a staggered spacing of the broken chord. It works in exactly the same way as a piano roll in a digital-audio-workstation, like FL Studio (if you're familiar with that program)

[@melody5671234]

thank u so much :)

[@magentaGhost]

I’m just a bit confused on how you attached the paper because every diy music box I have looked at has had slit through which you have to put the paper through, and once the song is over, you have to insert it again. I was hoping to make a music box in which I didn’t have to insert it repeatedly so I was wondering how you managed to create that loop?

[@DavidRussell323]

haha, yeah I hate that those sorts of music boxes require the owner to have to keep putting the strip back in--it's too much effort. To loop it, you insert the notated strip into the metal contraption, crank it until the strip is half-finished, then cut the beginning and end of the strip at the first measure and last measure respectively. After that, taping the two ends together and re-punching the holes into the strip that got covered by the tape will make the strip loop continuously. You can see the two ends taped at 5:22

[@magentaGhost]

DavidRussell323 Oh my god thank you, you’re an actual angel

[@YamenHawit]

What color wood stain did you use?

[@maxwellhowland4249]

dope man i love it !

[@CHMMUSIC0922]

hey, can you let me know how did you make the melody sheet appears antique-y like yours? this was a huge inspiration, thanks!

[@DavidRussell323]

Sure! I essentially just took a piece of drawing-charcoal, smeared it all over my fingers, and finger-painted the black on the paper strip hahaha. Afterwards, I took a cotton pad with alcohol and gently rubbed off the excess, leaving the effect you saw in the video

[@CHMMUSIC0922]

DavidRussell323 thanks!

[@DJInspyr]

Hey man, how did you make that effect on the paper? :)

[@lowkey75kg]

Is there any way someone can pay you to make and ship this?

[@Taddao105awesome]

Did you just use nails and wood glue to put this together or only wood glue?

[@DavidRussell323]

i think this box was done with nails in the corners that weren't shown in the video--and this is definitely the case for boxes I've made later on hah. Nowadays, I don't use wood glue

[@arrowzfly21]

how do you get the book out of the box, it looks tight.

[@CactusGalplayer]

Ah this looks real cool! May I ask how much is paying for much of this?

[@DavidRussell323]

Sorry for the super late reply! In total, it cost about 50$ (USD)

[@kiralove214]

I need to make a music box with my song from my favorite anime. (clear the jellyfish song) I absolutely love it

[@xpromise510]

Excuse me friend, this may be a stupid question cause my knowledge of the music box thing isn't much. But, why is it that the paper tape is what makes the music box play a certain music. Like how does it work o: Please answer asap. Thanks :D

[@justinnaramor6050]

I know I am extremely late here and I apologize for that, but I just saw your comment and I can explain how the music box works just in case you're still not sure about it. I'm visually impaired so I had exactly the same question, and I had to go through what seamed like a lot of research to find some answers that actually gave a consistant explanation. Sorry if this get's long, but here it goes. The music box has a slot that the paper goes into. That slot leads in between 2 rotating shafts, and these shafts rotate in opposite directions. This is achieved by a set of gears attached to the shafts. The upper shaft has plastic casing around it, which creates enough friction to push the paper through as the hand crank is turned. Now here's where it starts to get a bit more interesting:). The lower shaft (which is underneath the paper strip) acts like an axle which rotates a row of toothed wheels. Each of these wheels is alined with a musical note in the machine. As you turn the crank with your hand, this axle trys to rotate the toothed wheels in a certain direction, but the paper pushes forward on the wheels which prevents them from rotating (to understand what I mean, try rotating an axle with a wheel on it, with the wheele on a table or something like that, and then use your other hand to try to push the wheel in the opposite direction. Notice how it resists being rotated even when the axle is rotating). Now, as a hole comes into contact with one of the teath on one of the wheels, the wheel is finally aloud to rotate (this would be like your hand pushing against that rotating wheel on the table and then lifting your hand off of it, which allows it to rotate again). This rotation causes another tooth on that same wheel to hit that metal piece that finally makes the sound! I hope this helps and I hope you have a nice day. Justin Naramor

[@shewonders496]

wow. you have inspired me!

[@hannahsetalla9987]

Super super cool!! :D

[@DavidTheCVINFECTI]

Thanks, I will Do this for my friend

[@sunkissedbeetle3269]

i really wanna make a present for my friend, and one of her favorite games is twilight princess from legend of zelda ! i was hoping to make her a music box with midna's lament playing but i dont know how to do the music?? could you maybe do it yours is so pretty < 33

[@DavidRussell323]

I'm for hire! (msg on facebook if you like!)

[@sunkissedbeetle3269]

okay ill keep that in mind ! ;v;

[@cat19831]

i actually have a couple questions on this 1. Does the box you make have to be big? or can i make a tiny one with this 2. so if you already know the notes i can just write it on there? ( can't watch the video all the way yet its late and I'll wake my hubby lol)

[@DavidRussell323]

1. the size of the box is dependant on the length of the paper strip loop. Generally, I try to make the box only slightly larger than my strips, which tend to be ~30 seconds (about a strip and a half of music). 2. your music needs to be in diatonic C, whether it's originally like that, transposed, or arranged (my preference) that way. It also needs to be arranged such that the melody and harmonies don't extend past two octaves. Just a bit of housekeeping before you can be sure your melody will fit!

[@cat19831]

+DavidRussell323 Thank you ca i tell u the song im thinking of to see if it will work before i purchase?

[@DavidRussell323]

Yep! Generally, I open commissions to build whole boxes in the winter, but I'd be happy to arrange the paper strip tune for ya. Feel free to shoot me details on my facebook page

[@apv]

Any ideas on how to mod these paper musical movements to be wind up?

[@DavidRussell323]

It'd be fun to put a motor on the crank that activated when the box would open--something like maybe an electromagnetic connection when the box is closed preventing the movement, but when the connection is broken by opening, the mechanism starts. I'm not mechanically able to build something like that right now, but it'd be a fun route to explore in the future!