Monday, February 24, 2020

JJ's Diddley Bow


During our STEAM course Light, Sound and TIme, we went over sound as our seconded unit of the course and focused on how humans perceived sound and how other animals do also. We researched ear structures and learn about the anatomy of the ear. Learning about the ear helped me understand more as to why I can’t hear certain sounds that my dog maybe can. Over time in our investigation, we lent toward music and different frequencies of the pitch.

Recently for a Field Experience, our teacher’s close friend performed a sound bath for us. A sound bath is a meditative experience where sound waves are produced by various instruments and human voices. This was really unique and when she moved around the room with the gong I could hear the Doppler effect taken place. As we dug heavily into our calculations and equations we were given the task to create a diddley bow. A diddley bow is a single-stringed guitar-like instrument. Yet its played with a piece of steel or a glass bottle to give a bluesy type sound. Heres my diddley bow below hope you enjoy.
Sketch(2020)

J.L Diddley Bow (2020)
J.L Diddley Bow (2020)

Harmonics on the fretboard
J.L Diddley Bow (2020)

Heres a video I recorded of yourself playing my DiddleyBow

My diddley bow makes sound by the string that I have screwed into the wood. The string I have on my bow is the g string, its vibration rings throughout the air creating a frequency that goes through my soundhole and is amplified so I can hear. The bridge and nut create tension and support on my device. I also added a thick rubber band to help create more tension.

Important Terms
Key scientific principles such as sound waves, wavelength, frequency, and amplitude.
Sound Waves- A wave of compression that goes through the air.
Wavelength - The distance between successive crests of a wave
Frequency- The rate at which something is repeated over a particular period of time
Amplitude- The maximum peak of raise the volume

My first 4 harmonics and their approximate wavelength and frequency/pitch
Waves and Frequency Calculations (2020)
1st harmonic frequency- 84.2

1st harmonic wavelength- 4.073

2nd harmonic frequency - 168.4

2nd harmonic wavelength- 2.036

3rd harmonic frequency- 6.108

3rd harmonic wavelength- 0.017

4th harmonic frequency- 0.051

4 harmonic wavelength- 0.207

My data on the string gauge
String thickness- 0.18/1000th in
Sting Length- 24/1000th in

JL-2020


JL-2020
Calculations
Height of small piece of wood- 3in
Height of can hole- 2in
Distance from the battery to can- 26in
The hypotenuse of (the vibrating string)- 26.02in
Trapezoid Area- 65in
Upper Angle- 87.797in
Lower Angle- 92.202in
Cylinder Radius- 2in
Cylinder Height- 4.5in
Cylinder Volume- 56.22 inch


In conclusion, this project was very fun. I got to understand the basis of sound principles and create something that is unique. I learned a little more about guitars, and the process of creating it was extraordinary. I would love to do it again. Hopefully making it electric this time. Thanks for visiting my blog.

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