by Prof. Lydia Ayers

1
Exploring Music Lab 7

• by Prof. Lydia Ayers

2
Objectives

• Build a monochord (single string instrument)
• Record and find the frequency of the open string
• Measure and mark the positions for the pitches to
  make a major scale
• Play a simple exercise
• Work on your composition (due next week in lab)

3
Build a Monochord

• Make a cardboard frame
• Board-like frame from several layers of
  cardboard, with the fold in different places so
  it wont bend with the force of the string
• Hollow box-like frame will produce more tone
• Longer frame will produce lower tone

4
Build a Monochord

• Make two bridges
• Fold small pieces of cardboard into triangles
• Use two or three layers of cardboard if one layer
  is not stiff enough to support the tension of the
  string
• Secure a bridge near each end of the frame
• If you want to tune the string, you can place a
  third moveable bridge between the two end bridges

5
Build a Monochord

• Secure the string over the bridges
• Cut a string a little longer than the distance
  between the bridges
• Secure the string over the bridges tightly enough
  to get a good sound
• What is good is whatever you think sounds good

6
Mark the Pitches

• Measure the string and touch lightly in the
  center
• The best position is where the harmonic gives the
  clearest sound
• Mark the frame below the harmonic
• Plucking the string while pressing this position
  produces the octave

7
Mark the Pitches

• Measure the string and touch lightly at each
  harmonic position
• Continue marking the harmonics until you have a
  major scale
• Perfect 5th at 3rd harmonic
• Perfect 4th at 4th harmonic
• Major 3rd at 5th harmonic
• Major 2nd at 9th harmonic

8
Mark the Pitches

• The bridge is the end you pluck and the nut is
  the end you tune
• String lengths from bridge are reciprocals of
  frequency ratios
• Perfect 5th 2/3 from bridge (1/3 from nut)
• Perfect 4th 3/4 from bridge (1/4 from nut)
• Major 3rd 4/5 from bridge (1/5 from nut)
• Major 2nd 8/9 from bridge (1/9 from nut)
• Major 6th 3/5 from bridge (2/5 from nut),
  another position of the 5th harmonic
• Major 7th 8/15 from bridge (7/15 from nut),
  harmonic should sound clearly

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Example

• For a 30 inch string
• Perfect 5th at 3rd harmonic 20 inches (2/3
  string length) from bridge, 10 inches (1/3 string
  length) from nut
• Other useful intervals
• Minor 3rd at 6th harmonic
• Minor 7th at 9/16 or 5/9 string length from
  bridge (7/16 or 4/9 from nut) (I cant get a
  clear harmonic on this one on the dulcimer)

10
Make a Pick

• You can make a pick by cutting a piece from a
  plastic water bottle into a comfortable shape

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Find the Frequency of the String

• Record the sound of the open string
• Note that a tighter string sounds higher than a
  looser one
• Use the wavanal program to find the frequency of
  the sound
• On the Web page for wavanal, there is also a
  pitcher program which may be helpful (it is
  probably not in Lab 4 now)

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Monochord Exercise

• Practice playing this exercise on your monochord

Down in the Valley
13
Monochord Exercise

• Practice playing this exercise on your monochord

Foster Camptown Races
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Monochord Exercise

• Practice playing this exercise on your monochord

Barbara Allen
15
Composition

• Continue working on your composition
• What to do is up to you this is the beginning
  of your composition, not an exercise
• The next version of your composition is due in
  the lab next week
• You can record some string sounds and add them to
  your composition

16
P.S.

• There may be a composition question and a
  progress report on your final project on the
  Midterm Exam, so developing some thoughts about
  these things may help you