DIY Cajon Box Drum Build

A sturdy cardboard box, approximately 12-18 inches tall (shipping boxes work well)

Packing tape for reinforcing the box

Scissors or box cutter (adult handles the cutting)

Phone or speaker for playing songs to accompany

Find a sturdy cardboard box. Reinforce all seams and edges with packing tape so it can handle repeated striking without collapsing.

Cut a 4-inch circle in the back panel using scissors or a box cutter. This sound hole lets the bass resonate, just like a real cajon.

Place the box on the floor and sit on it, or prop it between your knees while sitting in a chair. The front face points outward.

Strike the center of the front face with your open palm. Hear that deep, resonant thump? That's your bass tone.

Now hit near the top edge of the front face with just your fingertips. Brighter and snappier — that's your snare tone.

Combine them into a basic beat: bass-bass-snare-bass. Boom-boom-TAP-boom. Practice until it's steady.

Put on a favorite song and play your cajon along with the beat. You're playing a real percussion instrument.

The cajon (pronounced ca-HON) originated in Peru. African slaves created it when drums were banned — they played on shipping crates. There's a powerful history behind this simple box.

The front face should be slightly thinner than the sides for better sound. If your box is very thick cardboard, the thin face will be the one to play.

Experiment with hitting different spots: center = deep bass, edges = bright snare, sides = mid-tone. Every location produces a slightly different sound.

For a more authentic sound, tape a few guitar strings or jangly keychains loosely against the inside of the front face. They buzz against the surface like a real cajon's snare wires.

If your child loves this, real wooden cajons are available for $30-60 and are a legitimate instrument used in folk, flamenco, and pop music worldwide.