Free Musical Instrument Plans

Build A Bluegrass-Style 5-String Banjo
Whether it's jazz, rock, blues or folk, we Americans love our music. Not the lofty kind, heard and played in quiet concert halls or recital rooms, but our music, the music played by and for the people. While the music is uniquely ours, though, most of the instruments we use were born and bred in a classical... .

Building A Celtic Harp
A journal intended to record in a step-by-step format, the complete construction of an original, one of a kind Celtic Harp.

Music Stand Project
Having made several music stands in a vaguely Regency style, I decided to challenge myself by making a stand for my son who regularly plays string quartets at home. I've only ever seen photographs of...

Guitar
Martina Sorbara's guitars resonate with craftsmanship The relationship between musician and instrument has always been an intimate one, and few instruments illicit the full array of human emotions like the guitar. Jimi Hendrix used to sleep with his. Pete Townshend smashed his. Many name their guitars,...

Erlan's Music Stand
A little over a year ago (o.k. Two Pennsics ago) after the wind had delighted itself by blowing through the Pennsic Choir tent and delighted itself in... [Tip: try Google cached copy if link fails].

The Clave
Origins and evolution of the clave (or claves). No plans but good background info for anyone planning to build their own.

Claves - Wikipedia
Easy to read overview of claves including photo and brief description of how they are made.

Claves dimensions
Newsgroup postings in rec.music.makers.percussion that discuss typical dimensions for claves and best woods to use.

Lute Plans
The lute made from this plan is based on the work of north Italian makers from about 1600.

Small Steel String Acoustic Guitar Plan
An attempt to replicate guitars of the early 20th century in the USA, it has a very bright sound (click below to hear one) which contrasts well with larger guitars.

Handmade Guitar
What makes this a good guitar? For one thing, the materials. The top is fine-grain spruce and the other parts are Honduras mahogany both "musical grade" woods.