MU2801 – Music with Machines – A-2024

Brody G, Abhi C, Jack P

This is an attachment to a guitar which can excite guitar strings using electromagnets. The magnets are placed over the strings, and turn on and off quickly, which will push and pull the strings, causing them to oscillate. An Arduino sends these signals as a square wave with a frequency, which corresponds to the frequency of the note that should be played. This frequency cycles through the note frequencies from A through G, allowing any note fretted on the guitar can be played. This signal goes through an audio amplifier, which the player can use to control how much power is sent to the electromagnet when it is on. This will effect the volume of the note played.

The end result is that the player has more control over the dynamics that they are playing, while still controlling pitch. Instead of the normal sound of plucking a guitar string which results in a strong attack, you can gradually crescendo into a note, resulting in a sound similar to bowing a violin. You can also infinitely sustain notes and glide across pitches without losing volume.

Bill Of Materials

Purpose In Machine	Part	Quantity	Manufacturer	Part #	Specs	Cost	vendor
Excitation	Electromagnet	2	AKZYTUE	P30/25	5v10 kg “suck”	$3.99 (x2)	Amazon
Signal Amplification	Audio Amplifier	2	DROK	PAM8406	5 volts	$21.49 for 2	amazon
Input/Output and electronic control	Microcontroller(Already Owned)	1	Arduino	UNO Rev 3(ARD_A000066)	200 KB RAM, 32 KB Memory,16 mhz CPU speed	$27.60	amazon
Electronics	Breadboard(Already Owned)	1	DigiKey	3647-SolderlessBreadboard400-ND	400 tie points60 5-tie point terminals2 distribution buses	$2.47	DigiKey
Wiring	Male to Male Jumper Wire	40	California JOS	B0BRTJQZRD	Length: 20cm40 male to male wires	$5.97	amazon
Wiring	3.5 audio jack to bare wire cable	2	SIOCEN	D33	Length: 1ftComes with 2	$5.99	amazon
Sonic Object	Guitar	1	Ibanez	GRGA120	24 medium FretsInfinity R (H) PickupsString gauge:.009 – .042	$250- $390	(already owned
Mounting	2×4 wood plankPaint dipstick	1				$1.24	Home Depot
Adhesive	Duct Tape	1 Roll	Duck Tape			$4.98	Walmart
Alternatively, you could try to build your own guitar rig with materials and guitar strings. These were just the materials we had on hand.