These six DIY percussion and percussion-adjacent projects range from woodworking and pipe tuning to LEGO construction and Arduino-controlled motors. The original Make: roundup is a set of project ideas, not six complete build plans; its linked robotic-drum tutorial is the one that provides a substantial parts list and construction sequence.
Make: published “6 Bangin’ DIY Percussion Projects” by Jeremy S Cook on August 21, 2015. The projects differ most in their materials and the kind of work they involve, so use the descriptions below to choose a direction before seeking detailed plans.
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Compare the six project ideas
| Project | Main materials or work | What the roundup describes |
|---|---|---|
| Custom snare drum | Cherry veneer, a custom MDF frame, purchased drum hardware | A cylindrical shell is formed from veneer over a custom frame, with hardware for the top and bottom. |
| Scrap-wood snare drum | Scrap wood and woodworking | Wood pieces are glued together and cut into shape, a different approach from the veneer shell. |
| Percussion PVC organ | PVC pipe cutting and tuning | The featured example has eight distinct pipe notes. Its horizontal tubes are tuned by incrementally sawing off sections. |
| Hank Drum | Metalwork | The concept involves cutting sections into a propane tank. The short description says the tank is “never filled,” but does not provide a safe preparation procedure. |
| LEGO harpsichord | LEGO construction and strings | A stringed instrument is activated by keys. It is included as a percussion-adjacent project for making music by “banging on” an instrument. |
| Arduino auto drummer | Electronics, motors and mechanical assembly | An Arduino-controlled robot strikes a drum; the linked tutorial also suggests a plastic bucket as a substitute strike surface. |
Choose a project by the work you want to do
For a woodworking project: choose a snare
The two snare concepts suit different approaches to building a shell. The custom drum uses cherry veneer formed around a custom MDF frame and purchased hardware for the drum’s top and bottom. The scrap-wood version instead glues pieces together and cuts the resulting assembly into shape. The roundup does not supply a common bill of materials or full instructions for either build, so treat them as starting concepts rather than ready-to-follow plans.
For tuning by trial and adjustment: choose the PVC organ
The described organ uses eight pipe notes. Its horizontal tubes are shortened in increments to tune them, making careful cutting central to the project. The eight-note count belongs to the featured example, not to every possible PVC organ.
#1 Best Overall
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For a LEGO-and-strings challenge: consider the harpsichord
This build is a stringed instrument with keys, made from LEGO blocks. It is less conventional as a percussion project than a drum or pipe instrument, but fits the roundup’s broader idea of homemade instruments you can play by striking or pressing parts.
For a motorized build: consider the Arduino auto drummer
The detailed Make: robotic-drum tutorial, credited to Ponytrap (Quentin Thomas-Oliver and Hillary Thomas-Oliver), is labeled moderate difficulty and estimates 38 hours for its own build. That is the tutorial’s project estimate, not a general build-time benchmark. It describes an Arduino Uno controlling two drumsticks: motors rotate driveshafts that pull strings to bring the sticks down, and return springs lift them after each strike.
Rank #2
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What the Arduino robotic-drum build involves
Parts and tools named in the tutorial
The following list reflects the tutorial’s authored build; it is not a universal shopping list for robotic drums or the other projects in the roundup.
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- Electronics and power: Arduino Uno, breadboard, hookup wire, two TIP120 transistors, two N4004 diodes, and two 6-volt lantern batteries wired in series for 12 volts.
- Motion and striking parts: two 12-volt DC power-drill motors with pinion gears (the authors name Mabuchi RS-545SH as their example), two drumsticks (they used Vic Firth 7A), boot laces, pulleys and springs.
- Frame and fittings: pine 1×6 lumber, ¼-inch and ½-inch PVC, screws, bolts, nuts, washers, eyelets and hose clamps.
- Tools and shop supplies: hacksaw, drill with ¼-inch and 3/32-inch bits, screwdrivers, pliers, ruler, and heavy or duct tape.
Ponytrap writes, “Our construction ethos is hand tools and off-the-shelf parts.” The tutorial describes cutting and drilling the lumber, making slotted PVC driveshafts, assembling a wood frame, mounting the motors and sticks, and wiring the Arduino circuit. The authors used a snare drum for their demonstration and say any drum is suitable; they suggest a plastic bucket if no drum is available.
Rank #3
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Check the circuit before connecting the motors
The tutorial warns that Arduino code already uploaded to the board could activate motor outputs at power-up. Follow its precaution: keep the motors disconnected while checking the software until accidental activation has been ruled out. The tutorial’s parts and sequence describe the authors’ build; they do not establish current prices or compatibility for substitute components.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Important limits on the project descriptions
The Hank Drum is the project that calls for extra caution. The roundup mentions cutting sections into a propane tank and says the tank is “never filled,” but that brief description is not a verified tank-preparation method or a complete metalworking safety guide. Do not treat it as operational instructions for working on a tank.
Rank #4
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More broadly, the 2015 roundup gives short descriptions rather than complete plans for all six projects. The linked Arduino tutorial is the exception with a substantial materials list and construction sequence. The sources do not provide consistent costs, difficulty ratings or build times across the six, so they cannot support a fair ranking on those measures.
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Best Value
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