The Gun Guitar: A Fully Functional Three-String Shotgun You Play & Shoot

If you really want to end your next big guitar solo with a bang, consider giving this shotgun guitar a try.

The instrument was conceived and played by Reverend Peyton of the Big Damn Band and created by custom pickup designer Bryan Fleming — and it's no escopetarra. It serves as a fully functional three-string guitar and shotgun, lovingly called the "Guitgun," and it's pretty damn impressive.

Rev. Peyton is a virtuoso, capable of playing pretty much anything with strings. He once played a song with eighteen different instruments which included acoustic guitars, a melodica, a standing double bass, and even non-traditional instruments such as guitars made from ham cans and axe handles, so it's not really any surprise that he moved onto a shotgun guitar. And not only is he competent on guitar, but he's apparently a decent shot as well.

Peyton plays guitar using the fingerpicking method, which is associated with certain American folk and blues styles. Fingerpicking is when the individual strings are plucked, rather than strummed, with the thumb maintaining an alternating bassline on the lower strings while the index and middle fingers play a melody on the higher ones. In this video, even though the Guitgun only has three strings, you can hear distinct bass and melody lines.

The Big Damn Band hails from Indiana and is comprised of Peyton on vocals and strings, his wife Breezy on washboard and background vocals, and Ben Bussell on drums and background vocals. Their music is pretty awesome if you enjoy folk, roots, or Americana tunes.

Make sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for updates on new tracks and performance dates.

Share this article using the links below, and let us know what you think in the comments! If you enjoyed this post and have ideas about things happening in the world that inspire wonderment, send a tip over to kpuccio@wonderhowto.com or share it with @WonderHowTo on Twitter.

• Follow WonderHowTo on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+