Do you know how to make your own instrument?

Question

I'm hoping to find instruments you can make but that have close to the same keys as a piano.

it could be just a box and rubber bands, but I'm hoping to be able to say, this is how an A would sound

Answer 1

Long ago, they use to have a cardboard chart with the piano keys on it , maybe about 2 octaves. I use to bring it on the school bus and practice out of my songbook playing the notes and learning to hear the sounds in my head. I didn't want to waste traveling time.
Once I tried the rubber band box but the rubberbands didn't want to stay in tune and eventually the cardboard box collapsed under the pressure of the rubber bands.A wooden or plastic box at least wouldnt collapse.You can also get bottles and put different amounts of water in them and blow across them to play a tune You add and take away water until they are in tune with each other.

Answer 2

Your idea would work just fine, you just need to strech the rubberband until it sounds close to an A.. and you can use a piano or a keyboard to tune it to. good luck, have fun