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How to Make a Xylophone Out of Tin Cans, Wood, & a Shoebox

A xylophone can play notes of the Pentatonic scale if each of five objects reproduces the sound of a particular musical note. Make a homemade xylophone using tins cans, a shoebox, a wooden dowel and other items found around the house. Tools that most homes already have will be needed as well.

Things You'll Need

4 soup cans,14 oz.
Can opener
Plastic containers
dishwashing liquid
Paper towels
Stickers
Pencil
Chair
Piano
Pitcher
Table

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the lids from each of the eight soup cans with a can opener. Dispose of the lids in the trash. Empty the contents of the cans into plastic containers. Wash out each can with dishwashing liquid and tap water in the kitchen sink. Dry each can with a paper towel.
- 2
  Place a sticker on the side of each can. Write ̶0;C,̶1; ̶0;D,̶1; ̶0;G,̶1; ̶0;A̵7; and ̶0;F̶1; on the stickers.
- 3
  Place a chair without a padded seat by the piano. Place the shoebox on the seat. Place the can labeled ̶0;F̶1; in the shoebox, against the left side.
- 4
  Pour tap water from a pitcher into the can. Fill the can halfway. Press the ̶0;F̶1; key on the piano. Strike the can with the wooden dowel. Compare the sounds. Add or remove water from inside the can until the sound when struck matches the piano's ̶0;F̶1; key.
- 5
  Repeat this entire procedure with the other four cans so that they match the sounds of the piano̵7;s ̶0;G,̶1; ̶0;A,̶1; ̶0;C̶1; and ̶0;D̶1; keys.
- 6
  Place the shoebox on a table. Grip the wooden dowel. Strike the cans in different orders to produce sounds along the musical scale.

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