When you have nothing and find a way to express yourself with basic stuff, this is where real music is born

My family motto is: "If you can't do it on one string, don't try it on six..." Big smiles when I read the comments below. Thank you all so much.

A lot of people see banjos and CBG and think hillbillies. but it actually came from Africa with the slaves. A sad forgotten part of our long lost heritage and that carried into blues and branched off into many genres including southern rock, rock and roll R&B and then hip hop and pop. This mans got soul. RESPECT!

Ingenuity and soul...man what these guys could make and then play !! Scott...you filled in a great big piece of blues history...really fantastic!

Today I got to see him play live and was so blown away with the performance

When he sings you can hear he learned from the real blues man.. and his cigar box playing skills are admirable .. !

As the instrument gets simpler and simpler it connects with your soul better. Awesome video!

This guy always sings wondeful!

Holy crap. I wish I had a tenth of this fellow's musical talent. Awesome.

this is the coolest thing I have ever found on the you tubes

Honestly at first i thought: "God damn that sounds aaaaawful", but the moment he began to slide that string... AWESOME^^ Greetings from Austria

I HAVE OFFICIALLY FOUND MY FAVORITE ARTIST OF ALL TIME! THIS GUY IS FRICKIN AMAZIN! My dad plays guitar and everyone says i should play but i wanna play like this on a box slide guitar or cigar box with loss strings and more of the blues passion. Keep on playin man! you got and awesome talent

Absolutely great, love it. Just shows that music can be made on all kinds of instruments and don't have to cost thousands of $

"You Are The Man Scott!" Thanks for Sharing, and Thanks for all you do!

"I'm fairly new to this [instrument]", then proceeds to make it sing. Just amazing!

Great history, tutorial, and performance. As always. Great job, Scott!

I had a picture of it when scott came East Lansing .It's beautiful.

This is a great video. Wasn't expecting feels to show up.

Really nice thanks for the post. I'm going to look for more of your stuff.

Hey Scott....One of my very favorite examples of the wonderful nuances of the Diddley Bow that I've seen on you tube or anywhere else. Keep Bluesin!

Amazing!!!!!!! Thank you for showing this instrument.

Absolutely outstanding! And his voice is vibrant and bluesy as can be.... Great posting!!

The cigar box guitar finds one more devotee. I came across these at a flea market on the weekend just gone by and now I can't get enough. Amazing to think that this music originates in Africa and through the slave trade in the USA became what we now know as Rock & Roll. Great voice, thanks for sharing this.

Mr. Ainslie sir this video was awesome! Now this is music! Pure southern blues!

you got the beat, brother, i feel the magic across these cords......

GIVE THAT MAN A CIGAR!!! CAWs brother man your Voice ,, your Singing.!!. is sooo Soulful and has Sweet smokiness so Authentic..!! The use of a Pool stick handle for the neck is stellar.. CAWs A great Artist can make anything sound good..and reminds me of how W.C Fields a profoundly talented pool player made incredible shots with broomstick handles and curlicued cues what ever was handy!! resourceful and clever as can be!

Wow what a treat. And wonderful insight to a little history- never stop my man Cheers 🤘😎🍺

loved the info and the playing... great...

I've watched the video several times, very good

Finished my CBG a few weeks ago and now that I see that Didley-Bow, I'm excited again to start another project. Great performance, Mr. Ainslie!

When i saw the face and the kindness coming out of this person, i was like, oh yes!! thats what humans should be like :)

The man has a killer great voice for the blues....

Scott is a King. Living encyclopaedia of history of blues. Thnx for all lessons he shared with us.

The greatness of maturity

Scott Ainslie... Greate musician, great teacher I learn with his videos, is the basement for me. From Argentina THANKS SCOTT!!

That is one amazing voice. I mean, the guitar is cool, but Scott's voice is magical.

wow, amazing what beautiful sound is coming out of this instrument.

talent and love, you can do anything with talent and love of what your're talented at

Wow!! uhff! this was really breathtaking , great upload.

so coo; Scott, blues runs out of you lick the hidden spring, magic man Cheers Dave

Truly fascinating, This is a first time see for me, Nice video Thanks

I'm loving it man I'm loving it keep it up just keep spreading those roots

I am now convinced to get a CBG. I own two nationals which are perfect sounding but the tone and looks of the CBGs are something i must have. That one stinger is just awesome. Thanks for the education -- you made me smile -- just awesome.

Simply Brilliant! This is beyond complex.

Love hearing you play that thing ...

So excited to make my own, thanks Scott !

That is the best version of Walkin Blues I have ever heard.

I'm stoked to have seen this vid ,cheers,SRV livs

Listen to him reminds of things grandma listened to hearing the simplest joy of the music

I just discovered your videos this morning after buying a beautiful cigar box electric fretless slide guitar. You are amazing! I will be buying your CDs. You're my new favorite musician! This particular video is really well done and makes me appreciate my new guitar even more!

OMG.👀 This is so refreshing to hear. awesome playing and singing.

really nicely done! I enjoyed this a lot.

I would love to meet this guy

Wonderful - thanks for sharing

Scott gives a good history oof how Cigar Box Guitar began.

Music for the soul. Thank you.

Damn... I wish I had his voice. Making a cigar box guitar right now. I have some of his skills to play the blues.. But that voice.. I would give my soul for it..

Love your playing and your singing.

Wow! Great blues stories and song!

great, thanks for posting.

Freaking love this, seriously!

This is just what I was looking for fantastic!

you diggin it the most! great playing! great singing as well.

i really like the second guitar

I love this thing...I'm totally going to try making one

I literally fell on this posting and LOVED IT!!!! I'm into blues, harp and all sorts of guitars and stringed sounds. This has to be one of the coolest videos I've seen in some time. Thank you Scott - please more and show more versions of instruments and names as you continue your path..well done. signed - random white boy

That's so friggin' cool to play!

8 Ball: Corner pocket....You nailed that shot Mr. Ainslie!....Great demonstration

Absolutely amazing!

what feeling man merci

Wow Scott,very cool and innovative of our forefathers to come up with this!!

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="547">9:07</a>. “‘Cause it stops the note and throws all the energy up in the air” [makes tossing motion with right hand]. Man, that is beautiful! You’re so right, that energy doesn’t just disappear. It goes up into the ether! Carlos Santana once said he sees himself as a conduit for the musical energy that’s all around him and he simply channels that energy through the guitar. Great video btw! 🎶

Great stuff. Appreciate the lesson.

Scott is a big inspiration for my slide playing (along with Seasick Steve and Mississippi Fred McDowell).

Wow. This really shows you can make an instrument out of ANYTHING. (Even a cigar box)

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="255">4:15</a> the meaning of the blues

I am fascinated by Ektar/Diddly Bow, single/double string instruments, made all around the world 🎶🌎🎶 There are so many ways they are made, with local, inexpensive materials, and played in different cultural contexts. I have some great store bought music instruments. but there is still nothing like, jamming on an instrument you made yourself 🔥 Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge about these things. I learned a lot today, about the history of the Cigar Box Guitar, I built for myself. Have a great day, and best wishes for your continued success/fun with music 🎸🎶🌎☮❤

you were a very lucky man to have such a raw and virgin like instrument.....being taught to you by the originators:) Brilliant ..you capture the stories well...good on u Scott:)

Yep - had that thought when I saw Scott live a few years ago. He inspired me to make one, and I've got a small stock of pool-cues now, waiting for me to get busy building :)

The action on the second one is crazy. That would make my hand cramp so badly.

Scott ran across this video of you playing the Diddley Bow and a CBG 3 string! I’m in the process of building my own during this down time with the COVID19 happening. Be a Well my friend!

Sweet pipes man...you sound awesome!! Very badass

Just wonderful.

Sing your song...and play your Blues...Thank you for sharing. Excellent....

Congrats man...you have my respect truly

One step away from berimbau. Africa is the cradle of all of this.

It's so real! ThankYou.

Great playing, but even better singing! Love your voice and style. I’d love to see you sometime!

i love this;.. Great Job.. Absolutely amazing. i put this on my ipod

sick. This sounds perfect!

Truly fantastic.

Must go and play some. Very inspiring

bloody awesome! loved it!

Necessity, is, truly the Mother of Invention!

thanks Scott...very nice!

Great history n' instructional vid. And it sounds damn fine too !

Diddly bow, the granddad of all blues guitar's. 👍

I'd like to troll up a comment but I cant. This is damn cool and full of rich history one cant say anything besides nice things. Was a pleasure to see this video!

Beautiful!

I love your T-shirt! Hope,that means. Yes,that's what we need now.