617-253-4629 web: edgerton.mit.edu copper pipe glockenspiel … · 2020. 6. 15. · glockenspiel...

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Copper Pipe Glockenspiel STEM activity

A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Promote STEM Skills and Awareness

Summary Investigate the physics of sound and musical pipes while building your own musical instrument! Learn fabrication techniques, practice math skills, and use app technology as you build.

Authors: Diane Brancazio, [email protected]; Leilani Roser, [email protected]

Resources: This activity is an adaptation of the Copper Pipe Glockenspiel Instructable https://www.instructables.com/id/Copper-pipe-glockenspiel/ which was published on January 27, 2012 by Alexander Pruss under this Creative Commons Share-Adapt license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Our modifications include minor changes to fabrication methods and guides for additional scales. Revision: 1, Date: October 30, 2019

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.instructables.com/id/Copper-pipe-glockenspiel/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/


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Learn the physics of sound and musical pipes while building your own musical instrument! In this activity you will:

● Investigate the Physics of Sound ● Learn fabrication skills ● Practice math skills ● Integrate app technology into learning

Tools and Materials

Tools:

Ruler Pipe cutter Coping Saw Drill Hammer Screwdriver Marker Pencil

Materials Wood bars ~2” x ¾”, ~4’ Copper pipe, ~⅝” diameter, ~ 80” Rubber bands, ~ 24 Nails, 4D 1 ½”, ~ 24 Wood screws #8 x 1 ½”, ~ 6 Wood dowel - 1.25” diameter, ~ 4” Wood dowel - ⅜” diameter, ~2’



Procedure - Summary: Make the pipes __Choose your scale __Find the physical property constant in your pipe __Calculate pipe lengths and nodes for each note in the scale __Mark and Cut your copper pipes to length Make the base and mount the pipes __Cut wood strip and assemble the base __Adjust the base and fasten the last piece __Mount the copper pipes Make the mallets __Make the sticks __Make the heads __Assemble



Detailed Procedure Choose a Scale Which scale do you want to use? Select a scale for you Glockenspiel that will work with the music you want to play. Use one of the suggestions below or choose your own. Once you have chosen a scale, look up the frequencies, and record them in the Glockenspiel Data Sheet.

Pentatonic Scale Nearly impossible to sound out of tune! Sounds like: rock songs, country songs, kids songs

8-note Major Scale More notes = more melodies!

Sounds like: Happy pop songs, lullabies

Double Harmonic Scale You can play Misrlou - Dick Dale would be proud!

Sounds like: Middle Eastern folk music

C6, D6, F6, G6, A6, C7, D7 C6, D6, E6, F6, G6, A6, B7, C7 C6, Db6, E6, F6, G6, Ab6, B6

Find the physical property constant in your pipe

1. Learn the mathematical/physical relationship between a bar’s length and pitch, and how it can be described in an equation:

L = √(A/f ) where:

● L is the length - we’re using cm ● f is the frequency that the bar moves back and forth each second - full

movements per second are labeled Hertz (Hz). We hear this as pitch. ● A is a constant, an unchanging number that describes how fast sound

travels through the bar. A is different for every material - depends on its density and shape. This is difficult to measure directly, so we calculate A using properties of the bar that we CAN measure.

When the bar is tapped it vibrates and produces a sound wave with a pitch at frequency f. There are nodes on the bar where the material is not moving. Nodes are located at a set distance N from the ends of the bar. That distance can be calculated from the Length of the bar: N = 0.224 x L. Figure: a vibrating bar and the nodes



Calculate A from L and f using a test piece of copper pipe a. Cut a piece of copper pipe about 30 cm long. If you have not used the

copper pipe cutter before, practice it on some shorter pieces of pipe first.

b. Measure the bar from end-to-end, precisely, to 1 decimal point (for example 30.1 cm) and record it: L = ________cm

c. Calculate N from L. N = 0.224 x L = _________ cm d. Mark the nodes on the bar with a pencil. Measure in from each end. e. Suspend the bar with rubber bands at each node and tap it. Try tapping it

with different objects (pencils, markers, wood sticks, etc) until you are getting a clear sound. Use a cellphone/tablet “tuner” app to measure the base frequency and record it. f = _________Hz

f. Rearrange the Length equation to solve for A.

→ → L = √(A/f ) A/f L2 = A = f L* 2

g. Enter L and F, calculate A (no decimal places) and record here:

A = f * L2 = _________ * ( )2 A = __________



Calculate the pipe length and nodes for each note in the scale 1. Fill in the Glockenspiel Data Sheet with data for each note in the scale

a. Length (you will cut pipe to this length) b. Node distance from end (suspension points for best vibration) c. Node-to-Node distance (use this data to mount the pipes on the base)

Glockenspiel Data Sheet Write the notes and frequencies you need below, and work through the equations A = ____________ (from your calculations)

Note Frequency

f

Length

L = √(A/f )

Node distance from end

N = .224 x L

Actual frequency measured

In tune? Node-to-Node length

NtN = .552 x L



Mark and cut the copper pipes 1. For each pipe:

a. Cut the pipe to length using the pipe cutter b. Mark the nodes with a pencil c. Mark the nodes on the pipe with a pencil. Measure in from each end. d. Suspend the pipe with rubber bands at each node. e. Tap the pipe and use the cellphone/tablet app to measure the base

frequency. Make sure you have a clear sound. f. Check if this is the frequency you expected. Is it sharp or flat? If so, try

again with another piece of pipe, and save this piece for a higher note (shorter length). If the sound is acceptable to you, record the actual frequency in the Data Sheet and mark the note on the pipe.

g. Make a template to help you mount the pipe on the base. Cut a 1.5 cm paper strip to the NtN length.



Make the base and mount the pipes Cut wood strip and assemble the base

1. Cut the wood from strips with cross section of about 2” x ¾” (4cm x 2cm). Thends do not have to be perfectly square, so feel free to use a coping saw or other hand-held saw

a. Cut 2 strips to 32cm long b. Cut 1 strip to 20cm long c. Cut 1 strip to 12cm long

2. Mark center lines as shown on all the strips. You may be able to measure this by

“eye”; it does not need to be precise. a. On the long strips the centerline is on 1 of the thin faces b. On the 2 shorter strips the centerline is on the thicker faces



3. Drill holes in the 20 cm strip a. Measure in 3cm from both ends

and mark it on the centerline b. Choose a drill bit about 2 mm

larger in diameter than the screw threads on the wood screws and drill clearance holes in the 20 cm strip.

4. Assemble the long strips to the 20 cm strip

a. Measure in 3cm from one end on both the long strips and mark it on the centerline. This mark is for the wood screws.

b. If the 20cm strip is made from dense wood, drill a pilot hole first c. Assemble the long strips to the 20cm piece by screwing in the wood

screws from the bottom.

5. Rest the open end of the base on the 12cm strip a. Do not fasten with screws until the mounting nails are in place



Adjust the base and fasten the last piece 1. Adjust the base and align the Node-to-Node strips on the base

a. Lay out the strips so the ends are in the middle of the wood strip b. Make sure there is at least 2 cm between strips and on either end

c. Adjust the angles on the base so that all strips fit. d. Mark the position of the long strips on the 12cm strip by outlining them

with pencil



2. Mark points for the nails that the pipes will be mounted on a. Points are between the nodes for 2 adjacent pipes b. Only one nail is used between pipes

3. Fasten the short strip to the base

a. Remove the Node-to-Node strips b. Mark holes for the wood screws in the center of the outline you just made c. Drill through holes as before d. Replace the short strip on the base, and turn it over, making sure to keep

it aligned. e. Screw in the wood screws f. Turn the base back over and adjust/square as necessary.

Mount the copper pipes

1. Tap in the nails a short distance a. Try to get them as straight as possible. If not bend them to upright once

they are tapped in.



2. Loop a rubber band around the nails.

a. It should not be loose. If it is too loose, double the rubber band.

3. Suspend each pipe using the rubber bands a. Twist the rubber band twice and stretch it around the end of the pipe. b. Align it to the node marking on the pipe.



Make the mallets 1. Make the sticks

a. Take a wood dowel ~ 3/8” diameter. Cut 2 pieces to ~25cm long 2. Make the heads

a. Take a wood dowel ~1.25” diameter. Cut 2 pieces to ~4cm long 3. Assemble the heads to the sticks. Use wood glue as needed

Add features as you like ● Make it a portable instrument by adding straps or a holster ● Fasten the mallets to the instrument for storage - drill holes for the sticks or add a

velcro strap ● Make it easy to store - add a platform on the side or make a stand ● Mark the notes for easy playing


617-253-4629 web: edgerton.mit.edu copper pipe glockenspiel … · 2020. 6. 15. · glockenspiel...

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