Arduino Paper Piano

    1. Arduino UNO board + USB Cable

    2. Paper

    3. Scissors

    4. Passive Buzzer or Speaker

      • Passive buzzer connected to pin 9 (positive) and GND (negative). on the Arduino Board

    5. Jumper Wires

    6. Copper tape (conductive adhesive tape)

      • Long strips of copper tape serve as piano keys.

      • Each strip connects to an Arduino input pin.

      • One shared strip of copper tape is connected to GND.

      • Students touch both the ground strip and a key to complete the circuit.

  • //This Code was developed by and for STEMNetX Arduino Programs

    #define Tone_Note1 220

    #define Tone_Note2 330

    #define Tone_Note3 440

    #define Tone_Note4 550

    #define Tone_Note5 660

    int Note1 = 2;    

    int Note2 = 3;

    int Note3 = 4;    

    int Note4 = 5;

    int Note5 = 6;        

    int Speaker = A0;    

    void setup()

    {

      pinMode(Note1, INPUT);

      digitalWrite(Note1, HIGH);

      pinMode(Note2, INPUT);

      digitalWrite(Note2, HIGH);

      pinMode(Note3, INPUT);

      digitalWrite(Note3, HIGH);

      pinMode(Note4, INPUT);

      digitalWrite(Note4, HIGH);

      pinMode(Note5, INPUT);

      digitalWrite(Note5, HIGH);

    }

    void loop()

    {

      while(

        digitalRead(Note1) == LOW)

      {

        tone(Speaker,Tone_Note1);    

      }

      while(

        digitalRead(Note2) == LOW)

      {

        tone(Speaker,Tone_Note2);    

      }

      while(

        digitalRead(Note3) == LOW)

      {

        tone(Speaker,Tone_Note3);    

      }  

      while(

        digitalRead(Note4) == LOW)

      {

        tone(Speaker,Tone_Note4);    

      }

      while(

        digitalRead(Note5) == LOW)

      {

        tone(Speaker,Tone_Note5);    

      }

        noTone(Speaker);        

    }

  • STEP 1: The Paper


    1. Fold your paper in half

    2. On the top half, cut slits ¾ of the way to the center


    1. On the top half of the paper:

      1. Lay copper tape horizontally along the length of the of the paper close to the center

      2. Lay copper tape vertical along the “keys” you cut out

    2. On the bottom half of the paper:

      1. Make a square of copper tape towards the bottom long enough to reach the edge of the paper


    STEP 2: Connecting the Board to the Piano

    1. The Speaker

      1. Connect 2 female/male wires to the speaker

      2. Put the positive end into pin A0 and the negative end into GROUND on the Arduino Board

    1. The Piano 

      1. Use tape or alligator clips to connect a wire from GROUND on the micro-controller to the top half of copper tape

      2. Use the same method to connect the input PINS 2,3,4,5, and 6 to the copper tape squares at the bottom half of the piano

    • Conductive Materials: Copper tape carries current like a wire, turning paper into a circuit board.

    • Inputs as Keys: Each strip of tape acts as a pushbutton when touched or pressed.

    • Digital Input/Output: Arduino detects when a key is active and plays a corresponding tone.

    • Arrays: Store notes and pin assignments, allowing scalable designs (easily add more keys).

    • Human-Computer Interaction: Demonstrates how simple circuits and code can create playable instruments.