A collection of DIY musical instruments made from everyday materials. Projects include audio effect generators, a sequencer, an electric ukulele, a PVC slide-whistle, and an acoustic-electric thumb piano. Features step-by-step, illustrated instructions, modifications, and a soldering primer. Touches on topics like circuits, harmonics, wind instrument physics, and music theory-- Making music doesn't have to be about dropping big bucks in the guitar...

Among the Senufo people of northern Côte d'Ivoire, the balafon (xylophone with calabash resonators) is an emblematic musical instrument. The music of the balafon is a source of joy while the young men are doing collective work in the fields, at age-group ceremonies, for the poro initiatory society, for the catholic mass and during young people's dance evenings. Musicians and non-musicians, young and old, talk about the different occasions for which...