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VIDEO: How to Build a African Gas Can Guitar

This has to be one of the coolest videos on the internet! Hailing from the Kingdom of Lesotho in Africa, Sotho Sounds is a group of funky shepherds who play their own instruments. (Yes, they have an album. Yes, you can buy it here!)

In this video, Sotho Sounds shows you, step-by-step how to build your own African gas can guitar. Don't forget to burn the can first!!!

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Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on March 21, 2016 at 1:29pm

Wonderful stuff!

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on March 21, 2016 at 8:10pm

Momma is going to be made about using Her knife.

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Permalink Reply by Gary O'slide on March 22, 2016 at 2:31am

Excellent.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Hunt on March 22, 2016 at 5:55am

Very cool. A great reminder that I tend to get caught up in the craftsmanship and forget the pure joy of a string on a stick in a can.

What is the burning of the cans for? Is it just to remove residue?

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Permalink Reply by Cigar Box Nation on March 22, 2016 at 6:15am

TONE! lol

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on March 22, 2016 at 7:01am

Most likely to get rid of the residue, but burning the can will change the metal and that could change the tone I guess.

That could be a neat little experiment.

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Permalink Reply by JL on March 23, 2016 at 11:46pm

Never tried it, but from trash burning detail I recall that burned metal cans had more of a "thunk" sound than "plink" when shoveling out the burn-barrel.

And from watching "Forged in Fire" I'd guess it makes it easier to cut the top off and drive nails through. On the show they get metal bright red hot and quench in oil to harden the steel, all other heating seems to soften the steel.

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Permalink Reply by Vic Root on March 22, 2016 at 7:24am

I should have burned the can first.

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Permalink Reply by Robert Scribner on March 22, 2016 at 8:11am

Very cool! Nice Job Vic!

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on March 22, 2016 at 8:25am

Nice. I didn't burn mine either and it sound great.

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Permalink Reply by Terry L Bennett on April 8, 2016 at 1:18pm

Nope. Looks great.

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Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 22, 2016 at 10:07am

Fantastique! Loved the whole thing and that music at the end was something special. I'm gonna burn my router too when I burn my can and go back to a rock and a kitchen knife. Then again, I need some edge on their skill, and I STILL don't get close to their ability level.