Take your creations beyond the workshop and onto the stage with diy music instruments! Let us show you how these creations range from simple, basic setups that produce beautiful sounds to more complex projects that require a greater level of engineering knowledge. With these tutorials and examples, we’ll guide you on this journey to make your own musical instrument for experimental, artistic or everyday use – so whether you’re starting out new or a seasoned sound creator, come explore the wonderful world of making your own music.
Di Mainstone and Tim Murray-Browne made Serendiptichord, a wearable soundscape interface: The Serendiptichord is a wearable musical instrument that entices the user to explore a soundscape through touch and movement. Referencing the architectural silhouette of a musical instrument and the soft fabrication of fashion and upholstery, it is designed to entice the wearer to investigate […]
The bells are played by a series of solenoids, which are controlled by an Arduino micro-controller. The notes that you submit are processed on our web servers and then sent to the Arduino, while we load up live video and audio so that you can watch your song play. If there are users ahead of you in line, the queuing system will let you know how long you’ve got before you can watch your song.
When I was a kid, my grandmother had a charming wind up music box that plucked the tune “Edelweiss” when you opened the lid. I was so fascinated by the mechanics inside the little box that I had spent a lot of time watching the movement turn. I decided I wanted to do a modern-day […]
The HVAC Music Box is a sound sculpture that uses the idea of an HVAC unit as a resonator to circulate the sound of music boxes that are activated by viewers. The composition in the music box is an original piece that is on a continuous loop that is only advanced by turning the knobs. […]
Prolific sound hacker Ranjit Bhatnagar designed these replacement hammers for a discarded piano that made it’s way up to NYC Resistor. Pianos have always seemed like mystical creations to me, so I really appreciated the demonstration that you can just make new parts for them! The design template and instructions are available on his Thingiverse […]
Ranjit Bhatnagar whipped up this laser cut ocarina, and provides the plans so you can make your own. Not sure how to get started? Ranjit’s running a laser whistle workshop Saturday 2/12/11 at NYC Resistor in Brooklyn.
Ranjit Bhatnagar writes: For all four years of the instrument-a-day project, my noisy refrigerator has plagued me: I have to unplug it whenever I record a new instrument at home. Well, today I exploited it. Materials: refrigerator noise, filtered by resonant tin cans.
