Poor Man's GuitaR

The following article is excerpted from David Sutton's book, An Obsession with Cigar Box Guitars: Over 120 Hand-Built Guitars from the Masters - 2nd Edition. (2019, CompanionHouse Books.) 

SHOP NOW:  We have autographed copies from the author for sale…

Hi all!

There's a "new improved" video up, "Boo-Gah-Dee-Ah."  I'm starting to go through the hundreds of lessons I've posted on YouTube over the last decade and update some of the videos.  In this one, I explore a really cool…

Let's get trippy!

This is probably gonna go down as one of my best slide videos ever... because it's so easy and cool!  Shane's DIY Sitar Slide Secret was just released on Youtube today and I can't wait for you to see it.  

Hi all!

Between guitar building and filming free Youtube lessons (scroll down for the latest), I haven't had the time to go to the barber.  I'm starting to get the mop-head look like the King Buzzo from The Melvins...   (Maybe…

The Youtube videos keep rollin... this time with an AC/DC classic:

You won't believe how EASY this song is to play on 3-string slide cigar box guitar.  Follow along with the TAB and split screen shots showing both hands.  

Shane…

Did Shane Speal promise to teach you Dick Dale's "Misirlou?"  Yeah he did!  Did he deliver?  Yeah he did!!!
 

I needed to give the shredders something to play after the last two beginner's lessons.  Practice this one a lot (the…

Hi all!

I'm churning out new lessons for you as fast as I can.  Two new ones were just released this week.  How to Play the Chords to Your Favorite Songs on Cigar Box Guitar and part 2 of the…

I just dropped a new video this afternoon, and it features a cool new cigar box guitar tuning:  

The Arkansas Tuning is basically the 4 low notes on a conventional guitar... but wow! ... it totally allows you to play…

I just brought a cool video back from the archives where I explore a strange double-neck cigar box guitar that was plucked from the New Orleans ruins of Katrina.  

Hi all!

Last night, I turned my camera on during a songwriting session in my music room to give you a glimpse at the song I'm working on.  Wesseh's oil can guitar was my instrument of choice and the music is a gospel song written by my Grandfather and his great uncle!

IF I HAD MY WAY:

The 10 Year Anniversary of the Cigar Box Guitar Tribute to Blind Willie Johnson

Hi all!

Ten years ago, I put out the invitation for folks to submit cover songs of Blind Willie Johnson played…

AC/DC's song, "Thunderstruck" contains the unmistakable one-string rundown by Angus Young.  It's really not that hard to play once you learn the scale and set up your cigar box guitar with lots of distortion.

The original song is in the…

Here's a little fun discovery:  Jimi Hendrix noodling around with a homemade one-string broom guitar!  It was the Summer of Love, 1967 when the Jimi Hendrix Experience sat down for a fun photo shoot.  The iconic power trio goofed around…

EXCERPT FROM SHANE SPEAL'S BOOK, MAKING POOR MAN'S GUITARS (Purchase your copy at www.stubbyslide.com).  

Scroll down to the bottom for the video demo!

I just got the most wonderful Christmas present... a song written about me!  David Kuhn sent me the following letter that included lyrics to his song "The Shane Speal Blues (a.k.a. One Step Deeper)"  He based all the lyrics from…

Arranging a song from a 6-string guitar to a 3-string cigar box is an exercise in discovering the essential notes and chords.  To do it right, you have to find the truest essence of the song (the main riffs, melody,…

Shane Speal's Snake Oil Band is like the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

I have somehow surrounded myself with a full band of Renaissance men, and it's the coolest thing ever.  Each member of the band has wild occupations and hobbies from Farmer Jon's farming, brewing and Revolutionary War reenacting to Rick's hot rods & stadium announcing.  

Just when I think I've seen just about every incarnation of cigar box instruments, Rich Eberlen shows up with his Cigar Box Stoessel Lute.  According to the info on his website, The Fretboard Explorer, the hybrid-style lute/zither instrument style…

These "Super Tub Bass" plans have just been added to the CigarBoxGuitars.com archive of musical instrument plans.  The bass is set up to be played like a fretless upright bass and is relatively simple to make.  

The article is originally…

Above:  A simple piano roll, when hung on the wall gives the appearance of an old Chinese hand scroll painting. The air holes add a modern art twist and the lyrics, running…