THE BOX BASS By: Ashwin K. The name of my instrument is the Box Bass. I thought of this instrument by knowing that if I strum a rubber band, it would make a cool noise. So, I thought of this instrument. I used a cardboard box, some rubber bands, tape, scissors, and gift-wrap. I bought the rubber bands because new rubber bands will be less likely to pop than older ones.  Everything else, I found around my house. To make the box bass, this is what to do: First take the cardboard box and cut off the top flaps. Cut out two strips of cardboard from the flaps. Make them about 2 inches wide. Tape the strips of cardboard together to make a long strip. Make slits in two opposite corners of the box. They should be as deep as the strip is wide. Slide the strip across the diagonal and into the slits. Make sure the connection between the two smaller strips of cardboard is strong. Cut more slits across the two long sides of the box. Make the same amount of slits on both opposite sides. Also make them straight across from each other. Now cut slits on the top of the cardboard strips directly in the middle of the slits on the edges of the box. Now, Put the rubber bands around 2 slits from on edge to the center slit, and another rubber band from the other edge to the center strip. Finally, decorate the box. If you are using gift-wrap like I did, be sure to leave the slits on the sides of the box showing. That is how you tune it. My instrument is in the string family. I play it by plucking and strumming the strings. I can also tap the sides to make drum sounds. It can make many different sounds depending on how you tune each rubber band, but basically can make 2 different sounds. It sounds like muted guitar notes, and can get kind of loud, but mostly quiet. My mom helped me decorate my instrument. She gave me the gift-wrap and helped me put it on. The biggest problem making this instrument was that it takes a lot of patience to string it. It takes a long time, but it's worth it once you are finished.