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The banjo is an infamously difficult to learn musical instrument. Mastering multiple open tunings makes the learning curve much steeper than the guitar, while its many complex finger picking and roll patterns only add to the challenges. But if you are looking for a much simpler alternative to the bluegrass staple, the designers at Co:Creation Lab have you covered. All you need is a 3D printer, some nylon fishing line, and an everyday party favor to build a diminutive \u201cballoon banjo.\u201d But as the team\u2019s short demonstration video shows, it\u2019s immediately clear that their ingenious instrument is much more suited as a children\u2019s toy than something to show off at the next pickin\u2019 party.<\/p>\n
The balloon banjo is less of a feasible music-maker and more of a\u00a0 homebrew science toy project for parents and kids, but it\u2019s still a cool and relatively straightforward concept. After downloading the design files, builders 3D-print only 19 pieces that then snap together to form seven separate parts. These are then secured using 3D-printed screws that can be turned by hand. The assembled frame houses a basic rubber balloon that serves as the sounding board, while nylon string or fishing line functions as the instrument\u2019s strings. Adjusting the amount of air in the balloon alters the overall resonance\u2014but that\u2019s about it as far as tuning goes.<\/p>\n
The small invention is more suited to demonstrate engineering and acoustic principles than playing \u201cCamptown Races,\u201d but it\u2019s still a cool afternoon DIY project if you\u2019ve got the time and materials. As Hackaday notes, both the strings and balloon will inevitably require replacing at some point, but both of those are much cheaper than the average banjo.Or even the inventions found at the annual Guthman Musical Instrument Competition.<\/p>\n
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Andrew Paul is a staff writer for Popular Science.<\/p>\n