How to Make a Guitar Egg Shaker

by olivergon

11K3111

Intro: How to Make a Guitar Egg Shaker

Various attemps have been made by several companies to develop something as simple as a shaker to be used while playing the guitar and thus producing rhythm while playing.

We can make our own with simple tools, and using recycled elements at the same time.

STEP 1: Materials

We are going to use recycled elements:
- Kinder surprise egg, only the yellow part, the chocolate and the toy can be avoided or given away to kids.
- Guitar pick: whatever material or shape you use, I found a yellow one so I chose it.
- Nylon string: I recycled an used first string from my tenor ukulele
- Small stones or sand from the beach (not seen here)

STEP 2: Make Holes

Now it´s time to make two little holes that will be used to pass the string. I used a small scissors, but a drill-bit should make a rounder one.
I made a hole on round side of the pick and on top of the plastic egg.

STEP 3: Attach the String

I´m going to use a first nylon string from a tenor ukulele, but any nylon string or fishing line would work.

For the egg side I used the double knot I use to attach the string to my ukuleles (see photo).

It is quite important to measure the lenght of string we want to leave, since too short and it will be difficult to handle, and too long can be a mess. What I didi was to hold the egg as comfortable as I could with the pick between my fingers, and payed a few strums. When I was happy with the positions, I just twisted the string at the pick and made two knots to secure it.

The result at the last photo. 

STEP 4: Fill With Sand

Just because today is sunday and I went to the beach to refresh my body, I too back a selection of little stones and sand. I live in Tenerife, Canary Island, and our beaches are from volcanic black sand.

Now it´s time to do some test: too little sand and the sound can be difficult to control, too much and it will not sound at all. There is a point in which the sand is enough to sound and have a good response to your struming.

Play, practice and enjoy yourself

11 Comments

mdlmusic 12 years ago

Great idea, but I'm not sure I understand the need for the string connecting the pick to the shaker. Wouldn't it be just as easy to just hold the shaker in your palm, so you could put it down without having to change picks?

halzark 12 years ago

Because of big brother looking over our shoulder (I blame the nanny state of our country espoused by the Dems) A small child could eat the toy inside so they are banned according to the article. A noble cause, but perhaps a bit ridiculous considering the packaging it comes in...

olivergon 12 years ago

As far as I did understood, the problem is not a security issue, but a problem with food + present/toy. I´m not sure but I think I heard about forbiding the Happy Meals toys.

halzark 12 years ago

Yeah, the government libs like to squelch fun to make everyone "safe". It's called "Limiting Freedom" a liberal philosophy, IMHO...

sircaptaintigerotter 12 years ago

whatttttt i bought a whole bunch like a week ago from a European/ middle eastern market in America

NinjaBoy12 12 years ago

Just made one of these. Great idea, cause i was trying to find something to use it for and i love this idea.

Puzzledd 12 years ago

What a clever idea! I've made shaker eggs from a Kinder Surprise egg and some rice (they make a nice soft sound, so people can shake along to guitars playing without being too loud) but I never thought of playing the shaker and guitar together with one hand!