rulers + tape +books = Rule Organ

Rule Organ
From the MAKE Flickr photo pool

Steven Goodwin shares tips and measurements for making the perfect study hall instrument -

If there's one piece of science that every kid knows, it's that twanging a ruler on the edge of the desk makes a noise, and by changing the amount of overhang will change the pitch. Give anyone a new ruler, and the first thing they'll do is twang it, to see how it sounds. This is an interesting fact of life.
[…]
So, to bring an element of fun back to the proceedings, we can combine these facts to build a very simple 'rule organ'. By taping thirteen rulers to a nearby desk, each with a different amount of overhang, we have a rudimentary musical (?!?!?!?) instrument. So, how much overhang is necessary, and how do we do it?
Head over to his site for the specifics - Rule Organ

- The Rule Organ on Flickr


Recent Entries

Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

Posted by: Joel Kirchartz on July 25, 2008 at 2:12 PM

Stupid me ....

While skimming this for the basics ... I saw him talking about letting the rulers overhang by x ammount of millimeters, and the gap between the edge and the marking.

The first question I asked myself is: How does he know how far each one is hanging ... then I realized He's using 13 perfectly good rulers.

c'est la vie ... Make = The Best.


Posted by: Tony Bullard on July 25, 2008 at 2:23 PM

no audio?

This is pretty much just evil to post something like this without video or audio. I challenge you to find one person who read this article that didn't want to hear what it sounds like.


Posted by: Vincent on July 25, 2008 at 7:47 PM

weird

that's weird because i was too lazy to build an instrument for my Science class last year so i did something similar to this


Posted by: steveburnett on July 27, 2008 at 8:29 PM

daxophones

Daxophones are elaborate carved wooden strips cut for different sounds.

http://www.efi.group.shef.ac.uk/photos/idax.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daxophone

I first found out about daxophones in the audio collection and book _Gravikords, Whirligigs, and Pyrophones_.


Posted by: Steev on July 28, 2008 at 4:01 AM

Video on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFG9uR9Q_L4

(from the bottom of the page)


Leave a comment


Subscribe to MAKE!Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

Subscribe today, save 42% and get web access to MAKE free. MAKE Digital Edition is available only to subscribers.

$34.95 / 1 year
(4 Quarterly Issues)

Subscribe now


Void your warranty, violate a user agreement, fry a circuit, blow a fuse, poke an eye out. Make: The risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things... Welcome to Make: Online!


CRAFT Maker Shed Maker Faire MAKE television




Check out more videos from MAKE.

Maker SHED

Connect with MAKE

Be a MAKE fan on Facebook MAKE on Facebook
Visit our Facebook page and become a fan of MAKE!
MAKE on Twitter MAKE on Twitter
Follow our MAKE tweets!
MAKE Flickr Pool MAKE on Flickr
Join our MAKE Flickr Pool!
    make_tips on Twitter



    MAKE Archives

    Make: Money

    Make: Science Room
    Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

    Make: Online editors and authors!

    Gareth BranwynGareth Branwyn
    Editor-in-Chief


    Phillip TorronePhillip Torrone
    Senior Editor
    | Web | Twitter


    Becky SternBecky Stern
    Associate Editor
    | AIM | Twitter


    Marc de VinckMarc de Vinck
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter


    John ParkJohn Park
    Contributing Writer
    | Twitter


    Sean RaganSean Ragan
    Contributing Writer
    | Twitter


    Matt MetsMatt Mets
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter


    Dale DoughertyDale Dougherty
    Editor & Publisher
    | Twitter


    Shawn ConnallyShawn Connally
    Managing Editor
    | Twitter


    Goli MohammadiGoli Mohammadi
    Associate Managing Editor

    Kip KayKip Kay
    Weekend Projects
    | AIM | Twitter


    Collin CunninghamCollin Cunningham
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter

    Adam FlahertyAdam Flaherty
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter


    John BaichtalJohn Baichtal
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter



    More contributors: Mark Frauenfelder (Editor-in-Chief, MAKE magazine), Kipp Bradford (Technical Consultant/Writer), Chris Connors (Education), Diana Eng (Guest Author), Peter Horvath (Intern), Brian Jepson (O'Reilly Media), Robert Bruce Thompson (Science Room)

    Suggest a Site!

    Advertise here with FM.

    Why advertise on MAKE?
    Read what folks are saying about us!

    Click here to advertise on MAKE!



    Current Podcast

    itunesdl.gif Behind the Scenes at MAKE and CRAFT In January, many of the remote MAKE/CRAFT team members (myself included) convened at the Maker Media headquarters at O'Reilly Media in Sebastopol, California. Take a look behind the scenes of your favorite DIY publications as Goli Mohammadi gives us... More...

    Get the Make: Online sent via email
    Enter your email to receive Make: Online each day:



    Sign up for the Make: Newsletter

    Our Make: Newsletter covers news from maker Media, has original columns, Shed deals, and more! You can also read the archives of past issues.


     



    MAKE Fascination video series brought to you by Dow

    Make: Education
    MAKE: en Español MAKE: Japan
    Important please read


    Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

    Recent Posts from the Craft: Blog