WHEEL MUSIC
This Instructable will show one how to make music with a wheel addition to a UNIQUE stringed instrument..
The unique idea here is to change the tone of an elastomeric polymer string via a rotating wheel. An earlier Instructable showed how to vary the pitch by changing the tension of the string. The listing was dated July 7 ,2011 "Vary pitch music instrument" by Mistic.
It was made for the kids to have fun on but later the device was revised to re-arrange the layout to provide added sets of strings and change the direction of the pointer [cursor] to low notes on the left and higher extending to the right.
The addition of a wheel to reverse the direction of the pointer was then introduced . and a scale was then added to mark three octaves of notes. Now the notations can be used to play from a music sheet..With 3 strings the two left strings are used to produce chording accompanyment.
More strings means higher tension is required by the pointer. With the wheel addition the tension can be controlled easily by using a thumb post to squeeze the hand to vary the tension.Also not shown here the Pulley {block-and-tackle ) simple machine using two wheels can produce a mechanical advantage and a low tensioning and an increase in length of the scale by a factor of two.
There is an alternate method to lower pointer tension and that is the use of the law of the lever.Add an extender rod to the wheel and rotate the wheel very easily with half the applied tension .[Mi x a=M2 x b }.a= wheel radius and b is rod length.This causes tension force to be lower[M2].
The unique idea here is to change the tone of an elastomeric polymer string via a rotating wheel. An earlier Instructable showed how to vary the pitch by changing the tension of the string. The listing was dated July 7 ,2011 "Vary pitch music instrument" by Mistic.
It was made for the kids to have fun on but later the device was revised to re-arrange the layout to provide added sets of strings and change the direction of the pointer [cursor] to low notes on the left and higher extending to the right.
The addition of a wheel to reverse the direction of the pointer was then introduced . and a scale was then added to mark three octaves of notes. Now the notations can be used to play from a music sheet..With 3 strings the two left strings are used to produce chording accompanyment.
More strings means higher tension is required by the pointer. With the wheel addition the tension can be controlled easily by using a thumb post to squeeze the hand to vary the tension.Also not shown here the Pulley {block-and-tackle ) simple machine using two wheels can produce a mechanical advantage and a low tensioning and an increase in length of the scale by a factor of two.
There is an alternate method to lower pointer tension and that is the use of the law of the lever.Add an extender rod to the wheel and rotate the wheel very easily with half the applied tension .[Mi x a=M2 x b }.a= wheel radius and b is rod length.This causes tension force to be lower[M2].
Downloads
Scale Impovement Using a Wheel.
The first unit was made using a ring with sides mounted to give a guide effect to the string around the circumference.
Imrovements- Use a spool from a depleted fishing cord, It has built in sides and this will keep the string uniform around the edges and improve the music scale: Another improvement is -the wheel is used as a guide in this example.String not anchored to the wheel.
l [00] ....................[xx] string length
l nut bridge l= 5 inches. Known as the SCALE.
l
l
O wheel 2 in. dia.
l
lNotes scale..l= 6.in. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------xx
G -G#-A-A#-B-Cm----------------------------C-------------------------------------C.
Now the notes scale can be increased to 10 inches to yield another octave.[ 3 full octaves].
Imrovements- Use a spool from a depleted fishing cord, It has built in sides and this will keep the string uniform around the edges and improve the music scale: Another improvement is -the wheel is used as a guide in this example.String not anchored to the wheel.
l [00] ....................[xx] string length
l nut bridge l= 5 inches. Known as the SCALE.
l
l
O wheel 2 in. dia.
l
lNotes scale..l= 6.in. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------xx
G -G#-A-A#-B-Cm----------------------------C-------------------------------------C.
Now the notes scale can be increased to 10 inches to yield another octave.[ 3 full octaves].
Wheel and Lever to Improve Ease of Rotation.
As stated earlier the addition of more strings means more tension is used to pull the strings all together. To aid the player's ease of finding a particular note at the higher Octaves means more tension.
The Improvement here is to attach the ends of the strings to the wheel at one point. Now when the wheel is rotated it will pull the stings around the circumference . The addition of a rod to the axle and edge is easily done. This rod can be any length from zero to 4 inches.
Rule= The longer the rod the easier it is to rotate the wheel.This due to the Law of the lever. Some call it mechanical advantage.
Without a wheel ,however, this advantage could be cancelled. M1a =M2 b.
The Improvement here is to attach the ends of the strings to the wheel at one point. Now when the wheel is rotated it will pull the stings around the circumference . The addition of a rod to the axle and edge is easily done. This rod can be any length from zero to 4 inches.
Rule= The longer the rod the easier it is to rotate the wheel.This due to the Law of the lever. Some call it mechanical advantage.
Without a wheel ,however, this advantage could be cancelled. M1a =M2 b.
Construction
Construction of an instrument-
The instruments here were basically constructed earlier. The improvements here noted were then added. The addition of a wheel was a huge advantage.
Details can be found in the aug 22 2011 Instructable "Rotating Vari-pitch Uku." Mistic. The wheel used there was replaced with a spool of plastic from a fishing cord spool.
The instruments here were basically constructed earlier. The improvements here noted were then added. The addition of a wheel was a huge advantage.
Details can be found in the aug 22 2011 Instructable "Rotating Vari-pitch Uku." Mistic. The wheel used there was replaced with a spool of plastic from a fishing cord spool.
Future Nstruments
Future improvement- To increase the scale range and thus improve the selection of individual notes in the playing phase the two wheel {pulley] idea is being used.
Some will call this the BLOCK AND TACKLE simple machine.
Only two wheels will be used and will realize a huge advantage in tension reduction when obtaining a High Note in the music scale.
O--------------------------------------pull [extended scale = 10 IN.
[block wheel]
O [TACKLE]-------NUT----------------------XX BRIDGE.
SCALE = 5 IN.
[ entered in Wheels contest.
Some will call this the BLOCK AND TACKLE simple machine.
Only two wheels will be used and will realize a huge advantage in tension reduction when obtaining a High Note in the music scale.
O--------------------------------------pull [extended scale = 10 IN.
[block wheel]
O [TACKLE]-------NUT----------------------XX BRIDGE.
SCALE = 5 IN.
[ entered in Wheels contest.