For this project, we were asked to create a band consisting of a string instrument (created by me), a percussion instrument (created by Jay), and
a wind instrument (created by Nolan). We were also asked to learn to play an 8 note scale, and a song with the three instruments. My band
played smoke on the water.
Instruments
Pan Flute For my instrument, I created a pan flute. A Pan flute is a wind instrument consisting of a set of 7 pipes of different lengths. In order to play the pan flute, you blow into the top of one of the pipes, creating a vibrating column of air, creating a sound. The length of each pipe affects the length of each air column producing a different note for each pipe. The longer the pipe the deeper the note, and the shorter the pipe the higher the note. Guitar I created a guitar- type instrument. I built a box and added an arm to one end and a block of wood to the other end, and I attached four strings, fixed at both ends. I placed seven wooden blocks on the arm, each measured so that they play all seven notes (a,b,c,d,e,f,and g.) . In order to play this instrument, you just press the string down to the block the corresponds with the note you want to play, and strum the string. On the typical guitar, thicker strings create a lower sound while thinner strings create a higher sound. On my guitar, all four strings are the same length, therefore, they all have the same wavelength. Along with being the same length, each string is the same thickness. Each note that you play causes a different type of vibration. My guitar produces a quiet sound, because it lacked a hole in the center of the guitar’s body in which the vibrations could echo through. Water Glass Chimes Water glass chimes make a sound similar to that of a bell. The sound is created because the tapping on the side deforms the side of the glass where it is contacted. The vibration travels around the glass and deforms the air inside as it moves, producing a sound wave. The shape and thickness of the glass control the tone. The more water added to the glass, the lower the pitch. More water causes the the sound wave to move slower and produce a lower frequency.
Concepts
Wave: The passage of energy through a medium Wavelength: The length from crest to crest or trough to trough on a wave Amplitude: The length from midpoint to trough or crest. Frequency: The amount of oscillations in a second. Period: The amount of time it takes for 1 oscillation.
Reflection
This was a very fun project. I am very happy that I was able to experience this because I learned a lot, although I wish that we were given more
time to complete this project. My guitar transformed through many different designs. The first design was a rubber band guitar. I attached many
rubber bands of various sizes around a card board box. I found the card board box was not sturdy enough and the rubber bands around it
practically crushed it. Next, I constructed a box out of wood, and wrapped the rubber bands around that. I spent so many of our limited work
days trying to make the guitar produce the correct notes, but I had no luck. A few days before the deadline, I decided that I was wasting time
trying to tune the guitar, so I abandoned that model and went on to creating a guitar with fishing line for strings, as well as an arm. I worked
very hard on the guitar, and was very excited to find that the guitar was able to play our song.