Ever thought about turning your trash into a treasure trove of music? Let’s dive into some fun and creative ways to make your own musical instruments using everyday recycled items.
Bottle Cap Tambourine
String together some bottle caps on a wire to create a tambourine that jingles with every move. My niece loves dancing around with hers!
A few choices to try:
- Bottle Caps for Crafting: Discover vibrant bottle caps to add a pop of fun and color to your tambourine project.
- Flexible Craft Wire: Get flexible craft wire perfect for stringing bottle caps into a jingling tambourine delight.
- Tambourine Making Kit: Explore beginner-friendly kits that contain essential items for making DIY tambourines at home.
Cardboard Tube Drums
Grab those cardboard tubes from your last batch of paper towels and transform them into vibrant drums. I’ve painted mine in bold colors and topped them with some fabric for a unique sound.
Some handy options:
- Acrylic Paint Set: Brighten your cardboard drums with a vibrant acrylic paint set. It’s fun and easy to use!
- Adhesive Fabric Sheets: Add texture and sound variety to your drums using adhesive fabric sheets. Peel and stick easily!
- Paint Brushes Variety Pack: Ensure precise, colorful designs on your drums with a variety of quality paint brushes. Perfect for detail!
Plastic Bottle Rain Sticks
Who knew that plastic bottles could mimic the sound of rain? Fill them with small pebbles and cover the outside with fabric for a tactile and auditory delight.
You might give these a try:
- Decorative Fabric Wrap: Enhance your rain stick with decorative fabric, adding texture and style to your project.
- Craft Pebbles: Fill your rain stick with these smooth pebbles for an authentic and relaxing rain sound.
- Natural Jute Twine: Use jute twine to securely seal and embellish your rain stick for a rustic touch.
PVC Pipe Flute
Cut a PVC pipe to length and drill holes to make a flute that sounds magical. Crafting this was a weekend well-spent!
You might like:
- PVC Pipe Cutter: Easily cut your PVC pipe to the perfect length with precision and safety.
- Drill Bit Set for Plastic: Ensure clean and accurate holes with this drill bit set designed for plastic materials.
- Music Tuner App: Tune your PVC flute effortlessly with a reliable music tuner app.
Milk Jug Bongo
An empty milk jug can be turned into a bongo with a little creativity and some fabric. It’s a fantastic way to repurpose and have fun!
Useful items to consider:
- Fabric and Textile Sheets: Enhance your milk jug bongo with vibrant fabric for unique patterns and stunning visual appeal.
- Decorative Rope: Use decorative rope to secure fabric and add intricate detail to your bongo’s design.
- Heavy-duty Glue: Ensure your fabric stays in place securely with easy-to-use heavy-duty glue for crafts.
Straw Oboes
Flatten one end of a straw and cut a small slit to turn it into a mini oboe. I once made a whole orchestra of these with my friends!
Products that could assist:
- Colorful Plastic Straws: Get creative and crafty with a pack of vibrant straws for homemade musical fun!
- Craft Scissors: Easily shape and customize your straw oboes with precision craft scissors.
- Music Theory for Kids: Introduce your children to music with this engaging and educational book.
Box Guitars
Turn an old box into a makeshift guitar by adding rubber bands for strings. My nephew loves strumming on his, feeling like a rock star in training!
These products might be useful:
- DIY Guitar Kit: Discover the joy of creativity by crafting your own box guitar with this complete kit!
- Colorful Rubber Bands: Add vibrant strings to your box guitar and make each strum fun and colorful!
- Wooden Box for Crafts: Use a sturdy wooden box to create a durable and sounding box guitar at home!
Bottle Cap Castanets
Use bottle caps and a strip of cardboard to make your own castanets. Simple to make, yet incredibly fun to play with!
Possibly helpful picks:
- Bulk Craft Bottle Caps: Get creative with a set of colorful bottle caps for endless crafting possibilities.
- Heavy-Duty Craft Glue: Securely join your bottle caps and cardboard with reliable, strong adhesive. Perfect for DIY projects!
- Pre-cut Cardboard Strips: Start your project easily with sturdy, pre-cut cardboard strips ready for crafting.
Wooden Stick Xylophones
Collect some old wooden sticks and arrange them by size to create a xylophone. When I made mine, I couldn’t believe how musical it sounded!
Consider these options:
- Wooden Mallets: Enhance your xylophone sound by using wooden mallets for a clear, resonant tone.
- Woodworking Sandpaper Set: Smooth and polish your wooden sticks with a versatile sanding kit for optimal sound quality.
- Natural Wood Stain: Protect and enhance your xylophone’s appearance with a quality natural wood stain.
String Can Bass
Combine a large can with some string to create a bass that’s as fun to play as it is to make. Perfect for those backyard concerts!
A few relevant products:
- Guitar Strings Set: Enhance your String Can Bass with durable strings for a rich, resonant sound.
- Large Metal Garbage Can: Find a sturdy can for your bass project and ensure long-lasting stability.
- Wooden Guitar Neck: Craft your String Can Bass with a reliable neck for comfortable playing.
Straw Pan Flutes
Cut some straws to different lengths and tape them together for a pan flute. It’s a simple project with surprisingly delightful results!
Try these:
- Colored Paper Straws: Create vibrant pan flutes with durable colored paper straws. Perfect for crafting fun projects.
- Craft Tape Set: Secure your straw pan flutes with this versatile craft tape set. Easy and effective.
- Biodegradable Twine: Bind your straw pan flutes with eco-friendly biodegradable twine. Strong and sustainable solution.
Coffee Can Bongos
Repurpose those large coffee cans into bongos by covering the tops with fabric. We love jamming out with these in our living room!
Some ideas to consider:
- Fabric Adhesive for Craft Projects: Secure your fabric to create durable bongos with high-quality adhesive for long-lasting sound.
- Decorative Coffee Cans: Choose decorative coffee cans to give your bongos a stylish and personal touch.
- Drum Heads for Bongos: Enhance the sound of your bongos by using quality drum heads specifically designed for rich tones.
Balloon Drums
Stretch a balloon over a can to make a drum that’s perfect for little hands. When my kids tried this, they were thrilled with the poppy sound!
Might be a good match:
- Pack of Balloons: Get a pack of vibrant balloons for a fun and easy drum-making activity with the kids.
- Tin Cans or Metal Containers: Find sturdy tin cans or metal containers perfect as a base for your balloon drums.
- Colorful Washi Tape: Decorate your balloon drums with colorful washi tape for added creativity and style.
Paper Towel Tube Didgeridoo
Turn a long paper towel tube into a didgeridoo with some paint and creativity. The deep tones it produces are sure to surprise you!
Items that may come in handy:
- Acrylic Paint Set: Unleash your creativity by adding vibrant colors to your didgeridoo with this versatile paint set.
- Paintbrush Set: Transform your didgeridoo with precise designs using a variety of brush sizes and shapes.
- Craft Sealant Spray: Protect your artistic designs with a clear sealant for lasting durability and shine.
Rubber Band Banjo
A shoebox and a few rubber bands are all you need to create a charming banjo. The twangy sound it makes is surprisingly satisfying!
Possibly handy products:
- Assorted Rubber Bands Set: Discover a variety of rubber bands perfect for crafting your own homemade banjo with ease.
- Wooden Shoebox with Lid: Choose a sturdy wooden shoebox as the base for your unique rubber band banjo project.
- Decorative Washi Tape Set: Add colorful designs to your banjo with decorative washi tape, making it uniquely yours.
Pie Tin Cymbals
Tape some pie tins together to create cymbals that add flair to any jam session. In my house, these are always a hit with the kids!
A few helpful options:
- Set of Pie Tins: Create your own cymbals by stacking pie tins for a fun, creative musical project.
- Strong Rope Twine: Secure your pie tin cymbals with durable rope, perfect for crafting unique musical instruments.
- Decorative Craft Paints: Add personal touches to your cymbals with colorful paints, making each session more vibrant.
Tin Can Shakers
Those empty tin cans can be filled with beans or rice to create delightful shakers. Wrap them in colorful paper for a festive touch that makes every shake a celebration.
Check if these fit your needs:
- Assorted Dry Beans: Add different dry beans for varied sounds in your shaker. Experiment and enjoy unique rhythms.
- Colorful Craft Paper: Wrap your tin can with vibrant paper to enhance its visual appeal and festive charm.
- Craft Glue: Secure the colorful paper tightly with reliable craft glue for a lasting decorative finish.
DIY Kazoo
Using a toilet paper roll and some wax paper, create a simple kazoo that’s great for entertaining guests. It’s a guaranteed giggle-maker!
Check these products out:
- Decorative Washi Tape: Add flair to your DIY kazoo with colorful washi tape. Personalize for extra fun and creativity!
- Wax Paper Roll: Use durable wax paper for creating vibrant, resonant sounds in your homemade kazoo. Easy to use!
- Marker Set: Customize your kazoo with vibrant colors using a diverse marker set. Spark your creativity today!
Egg Carton Maracas
An egg carton can easily become a pair of maracas by filling the cups with beans and sealing them shut. My kids love decorating theirs with markers.
Give these a look:
- Colorful Markers Set: Unleash creativity with vibrant markers perfect for decorating homemade maracas. Great for kids’ fun projects.
- Craft Sealer Glue: Ensure durability by sealing your egg carton maracas with quality glue. Easy use for lasting results.
- Dried Beans for Crafts: Fill your maracas with dried beans, adding a fun sound to your musical DIY project.
Decorative Tambourines
Glue some jingle bells around the edge of a paper plate for a fun tambourine. I love adding stickers and paint to mine for a personal touch.
Maybe worth checking out:
- Set of Jingle Bells: Add sparkle to your tambourine with these bells. Perfect for musical crafts and DIY projects.
- Acrylic Paint Set: Give your tambourine a personal touch with vibrant acrylic paints. Ideal for creative decorations.
- Decorative Stickers: Enhance your tambourine with these fun stickers. Easy to apply for a custom look.

















