Guica

II. How to make a "Chicken In A Cup"
a.k.a. "Friction Drum" a.k.a. "Guica" (Gwee-ka)

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Ages: 6 and up. Younger children may need help from grownups.
Time needed: 10-20 minutes including practice time.

SEveral different sized Cuicas. The big one sounds like an elephant!

Check out the picture at left. The huge Guica is made out of a 5 gallon paint bucket. I took the bottom out, and stretched a piece of rawhide over it to see if it would make a decent drum. It was only so, so. But there are no failures in this business! I took a piece of waxed linen thread and turned it into a Guica. Now it sounds like an "Elephant In A Cup!" Next to it in the photo are the more usual sized materials. If you need a closer look just click on the picture. It's a thumbnail. It will get BIGGER!

Materials:
1. Plastic cups (the sturdy kind) work the best but you can emphasize recycling by using plastic yogurt containers, or larger plastic sour cream containers. For a very temporary Guica you can use a paper cup. Most kids will rip the bottom out of one of those pretty quick. You can experiment with different sizes and materials.

2. Waxed Dental Floss (good) or Waxed Dental Tape (better - but more expensive and smaller amounts available)

3. Hammer & Nail: or other tool that will make a decent sized hole in the bottom of a plastic cup.

How To Make It: Punch two holes in your plastic container about a finger's width apart. It helps if your nail is a decent size. It might also be possible to squeeze the cup and snip the holes out with a pair of good quality scissors. Or you could thread a large needle with the Floss and "sew" your floss into the bottom of the cup.

But somehow you have to be able to take a piece of waxed dental floss about as long as a child's outstretched arms or one long adult arm and thread each end through a hole. Pull the ends through the inside of the cup and make sure they are even. Tie a simple knot as close to the holes as possible so the sting doesn't fall out and so the knot is not in the way of your fingers sliding up and down the string. Shazaam! you now have a genuine "Chicken In A Cup".

Some Tips: When I do large workshops I make the holes in all the cups ahead of time. This is not a kid activity. And is included here only for adults. I make a charcoal fire in my outdoor grill. I heat up a couple of nails. Using heavy work gloves and a pair of vice grips I grab a hot nail and melt the holes through about 5 cups at a time. Danger: The fumes from the melting plastic are toxic. They also smell nasty. I make sure there is a decent breeze blowing and I hold my breath when necessary. Wearing a protective mask is also a good idea.

How To Play It: Hold the cup in one hand and lightly hold the stings in your other hand as close to the cup as possible. Then gently slide your hands along the sting. You should hear an amazingly chicken-like sound. Particularly if you do it in short jerks. If you do it in one long smooth pull it sounds more like a sea-gull or maybe a wild animal. The larger the cup the bigger the sound.

Some Playing Tips: The sound is created with friction. So, if your hands are greasy or if the wax has been worn off your sting by a lot of playing, it might not work as well. In that case wash your hands with soap and water and either get a fresh piece of waxed floss or use a piece of beeswax (available at hobby stores) to re-wax the string. Another technique is to use a small piece of wet sponge. Experiment!

Home | Mark Shepard | K-12 Schools | Sound FX Instrument Making Guide | Chicken In A Cup