Build an (easy) Floor Piano!

The household floor piano is a dream no more! The Makey Makey microcontroller makes it super easy (and affordable) to build your very own “foot-strument” out of common household materials.

Grab a Makey Makey kit, some cardboard, and your musician shoes and let’s get building!

  • Difficulty Level: Easy
  • Estimated Build Time: 60 minutes
  • Cost: $50 (for Makey Makey kit)

 

 

Materials & Tools

Materials

  • Makey Makey Kit
    • 16 Breadboard Jumper Wires
    • 4 Alligator Clips
  • Cardboard
  • Aluminum Foil
  • Plastic Trash Bag (stretchy is best)
  • Duct Tape

Tools

  • Scissors
  • Hot Glue Gun
  • Measuring Tape or Ruler

 

Build the Piano!

1. Build the piano base.

Cut a cardboard base for your keyboard, then divide it into 8 equally sized rectangles — these are the dimensions for your piano keys!

2. Make the piano keys!

Cut out 8 cardboard rectangles using the base dimensions and paint them white.

3. Build the key triggers for the piano.

Cut 16 cardboard rectangles of equal size or smaller than the cardboard piano keys.

Repeat the following for each pair of key triggers:

  • Cover both cardboard rectangles in aluminum foil.

  • Use copper tape to connect one wire to the aluminum foil on each of the key triggers, then cover the connection in duct tape to secure.

  • Cover one of the rectangles with a piece of the plastic trash bag so that the aluminum foil is completely covered. Secure with duct tape.
  • Sandwich the two key triggers together so that the trash bag is a barrier between the aluminum foil.

 

Connect to the Makey Makey!

1. Connect the wires to the Makey Makey – one of the wires goes to ground and the other goes to a keypad (doesn’t matter which wire).

2. Test that the Makey Makey is triggered when you put pressure on the cardboard.

3. Tape the key triggers to the bottom of the white cardboard piano keys. Secure them to the piano base with velcro or glue.

4. Connect one of the wires from each of the key trigger to the six header pins on the back of the Makey Makey board and to two of the arrow keys on the front.

5. Connect the other key trigger wires to the Makey Makey ground.

Recommended to connect the ground wires in two groups of 4, then use one alligator clip per each group of 4.

Write the Scratch Program!

We have 8 inputs, which means we can play an entire octave on our floor piano! (Yes, that was intentional).

Your job: Write a Scratch program that plays 8 successive keys starting at middle C (or wherever you prefer your piano octave to start) using the “play note” function. Or you can copy mine in the photo above 🙂

Aside from the program, just be mindful of what piano key is connected to what Makey Makey pin. It’s easy to get 8 wires a bit mixed up — consider labeling them to save yourself some time (& hair..).

Install & Play!

Consider coating the electrical connections in hot glue. Plug the Makey Makey into your computer, place your floor piano on, well, the floor, and have at it!

Enjoy making beautiful music by stomping on your custom creation.

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