Project Overview
For the Musical Instruments project we were tasked with creating three instruments that could produce the notes A, B, C, D, E, F, G. I was in a group with Angus Brodeur, Christian Pedersen, and Jacob Kennedy. We decided to build a string, chime, and wind instrument. For the following we built a diddly bow (string), chimes, and a pan flute (wind). I had decided to build the diddly bow, Angus built the pan flutes , and Jacob built the chimes. Christian tried to make a trumpet but it didn't work out too well. To start off we researched the wavelengths and frequencies of each instrument. We then made a rough sketch on what our instruments would look like and how thy would produce each note. Then we built them for about a week. The project lasted about three weeks and when we finished I felt like I had done an exceptional job. Below is a presentation we created for our instruments:
For the Musical Instruments project we were tasked with creating three instruments that could produce the notes A, B, C, D, E, F, G. I was in a group with Angus Brodeur, Christian Pedersen, and Jacob Kennedy. We decided to build a string, chime, and wind instrument. For the following we built a diddly bow (string), chimes, and a pan flute (wind). I had decided to build the diddly bow, Angus built the pan flutes , and Jacob built the chimes. Christian tried to make a trumpet but it didn't work out too well. To start off we researched the wavelengths and frequencies of each instrument. We then made a rough sketch on what our instruments would look like and how thy would produce each note. Then we built them for about a week. The project lasted about three weeks and when we finished I felt like I had done an exceptional job. Below is a presentation we created for our instruments:
Presentation
Chime Instrument- For this instrument, we constructed a seven note(A-G) set of chimes. To play the chimes, we had a bamboo mallet to hit the metal, causing different vibrations within the pipe. Each different metal pipe has a different wavelength that causes different sounds when struck. By definition, chimes are classified as instruments that require the hitting of a solid object, which then must be able to vibrate in order to create sound and pitch.
The frequency or frequencies at which the chime tends to vibrate with when hit or struck is known as the natural frequency of the object. If the amplitudes of the vibrations are large enough and if natural frequency is within the human frequency range, then the vibrating object will produce sound waves that are audible. An easier way would be, when the metal pipes are hit, the waves produced are longitudinal and will vibrate into own ears allowing us to hear a noise.
We also discovered that using denser objects, like metal pipes create a louder sounds than less dense objects. Metal also vibrate much more and has a better amplitude than many other pipes. Our chimes are also made with high class string tying to keep the pipes in place and a perfect piece of plywood as our base.
1. Length of wave
2. Length of Chimes
Note
D
1. 1.0000
2. 30 cm
E
1. 0.9428
2. 28 cm
F
1. 0.8944
2. 26.8 cm
G
1. 0.8660
2. 25.9 cm
A
1. 0.8165
2. 24.5 cm
B
1. 0.7746
2. 23 cm
C
1. 0.7303
2. 21.9 cm
Wind Instrument: For the wind instrument I made a pan flute with the ability to make the notes A4, B4, C5, D5, E5, F5, and G5. The flute is made from bamboo from my backyard. I cut the tubes to the right length and then shaved the outer layer of the bamboo off to make it have a rustic look. Once all of the tubes were cut we made sure that they made the right note and then connected them with some hot glue. The pan flute makes all of the right note and sounds really good.
With wind instruments the tube is ¼ of the wavelength that you are trying to play because the closed end on the pan flute acts as a node, which is a neutral pressure zone (same as atmospheric pressure). The open end is a low pressure zone and the air flows across the pipe very fast. When you blow over the top of the tube half of the air goes over the top of the tube and half of the air goes into the tube. When the tube fills up and the air compresses at the base of the tube it comes back and tries to come back to a neutral wave but it can’t stop so it rarifies and and then goes back to neutral and then to compression and so on.
Fundamental principle says that every time you cut the length of the tube in half you double the frequency. The frequency is doubled because the air in the smaller tube can complete two cycles in the time it takes for the bigger tube to complete just one.
The harder that you blow on the pan flute the greater the amplitude. The greater the amplitude the more air that the wave displaces and the louder the noise. You can change the amplitude by changing how hard you blow on the pan flute.
1. Length of wave (cm)
2. Length of pipe (cm)
Note
A4
1. 78.41
2. 19.6
B4
1. 69.85
2. 17.46
C5
1. 65.93
2. 16.48
D5
1. 58.74
2. 14.68
E5
1. 52.33
2. 13.08
F5
1. 49.39
2. 12.34
G5
1. 44.01
2. 11
String Instrument: This instrument we made is a one string guitar called a diddly bow. This one string guitar has seven different notes. It was made with a wooden box, a wooden pole to a broom, and fishing line. The seven different notes are a, b, c, d, e, f, g. These notes are played when you play on the fishing line and move a metal thimble up and down the string. For each note, you press down on the string up and down the broomstick. Every different note has a different wavelength. There is a hole in the wooden box to project the sound even better. To increase tension on the string to get a better sound, we added a guitar tuner, and have a hose clamp and a nut on either side of the guitar.
1. Wavelength (cm)
2. Frequency (Hz)
Note
C
1. 264.73
2. 130.81
D
1. 234.96
2. 146.83
E
1. 209.33
2. 164.81
F
1. 197.58
2. 174.61
G
1. 176.02
2. 196.00
A
156.82
220.00
B
139.71
246.94
Reflection
This was by far my favorite project so far. I had a great group that was always encouraging and provided the necessary learning environment. I also felt like I learned a lot from this project, whether it be finding the frequency of a wavelength or learning how to properly construct chimes. I was also very confident in our work, as our instruments were top-notch for the amount of time we were allotted and sounded great. There were many peaks in our project, such as when we would learn something new and also when we finished each instrument. My group also got along great and had very seldom conflicts. One of our pits during this project was that we started off slowly and it took us quite some time to get on track, however once we did, we executed perfectly. throughout the second half of this project we were a well-oiled machine, getting stuff done left and right. By the time we finished, our instruments looked like they just came out of their factory seal. I am very confident in the work I put into this project and I had a blast while doing so.
This was by far my favorite project so far. I had a great group that was always encouraging and provided the necessary learning environment. I also felt like I learned a lot from this project, whether it be finding the frequency of a wavelength or learning how to properly construct chimes. I was also very confident in our work, as our instruments were top-notch for the amount of time we were allotted and sounded great. There were many peaks in our project, such as when we would learn something new and also when we finished each instrument. My group also got along great and had very seldom conflicts. One of our pits during this project was that we started off slowly and it took us quite some time to get on track, however once we did, we executed perfectly. throughout the second half of this project we were a well-oiled machine, getting stuff done left and right. By the time we finished, our instruments looked like they just came out of their factory seal. I am very confident in the work I put into this project and I had a blast while doing so.