June 9, 2015

PVC Pipe Organs

This was a major project inspired by the Blue Man Group to build a tuned percussion instrument from PVC Pipe.   See my build article for more details: Make Build Article

 

PVC Pipe Instrument - Version 1

PVC Pipe Instrument – Version 1

 

Version 1 Exhibited at Maker Fair 2013 – Judges Choice Award

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Demoing pipe organ at the Tech

Demoing pipe organ at the Tech

 

Demoed at Young Maker Seminar at the Tech Museum San Jose – Spring 2014

Featured on Maker Camp Summer 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PVC Pipe Instrument v2

PVC Pipe Instrument v2

 

Version 2 Exhibited at Maker Fair 2014

– double the number of octaves + sharps and flats for more song variety

Make Magazine article by Craig Couden published April 2014

Make Magazine Online Build article April 2014

 

 

 

 

Musical PVC Pipes

Thirteen-year-old Jason Duckering showed off his PVC Pipe Instrument at last year’s Maker Faire Bay Area and as a guest during last summer’s Maker Camp, playing classic songs like Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” and Europe’s “The Final Countdown.” With 11 pipes tuned to notes in a C major scale, the instrument packs more than 80′ of 2″ diameter pipe in a 24″x40″ footprint, a configuration he planned out on graph paper. For the custom paddles he uses to strike the tops of the pipes, he experimented with scrap pieces of foam duct-taped to sticks and even flip-flops covered in socks, but he finally settled on foam rubber backed with Plexiglas for rigidity. Next up: an upgraded three-octave instrument.Build your own PVC Instrument at makezine.com/projects/pvc-pipe-instrument
Craig Couden

Craig Couden

Craig is an editorial assistant with MAKE, and among other things enjoys video games and light up clothing.