Making Music with a Lego Guitar and Capacitive Touch -- Episode-637

In this latest episode of element14 presents, Katie and John embark on the challenge of transforming a Lego guitar into a fully functioning musical instrument. The duo starts by connecting a Raspberry Pi 3A to a robot mini-amplifier, which is then linked to a speaker. The primary challenge is incorporating functional buttons into the guitar without compromising its aesthetics.

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Initially, physical buttons were considered, but concerns about protrusion through the strings led them to explore an alternative solution. Katie introduces a Seeed Studio 12-key capacitive touch sensor (MPR121), allowing for touch-sensitive buttons. The team contemplates placing these buttons on the back of the guitar neck, making them invisible from the front while the guitar is in its stand.

The capacitive touch solution appears promising, offering a more discreet approach compared to physical buttons. Challenges arise in finding the right material to conceal the wiring. Katie experiments with conductive paint and tape, ultimately opting for copper tape covered with vinyl sheets to achieve a seamless integration.

Another critical aspect is the programming of the Raspberry Pi to interpret signals from the capacitive touch sensor. Katie describes a Python program she developed that plays various guitar chords at the push of a button. The Pi is connected to the touch sensor, enabling chords to be triggered from the guitar.

The final reveal showcases a Lego guitar that not only looks like the original, but also functions as a musical instrument with touch-sensitive controls. The team discusses the challenges they faced, providing valuable insights into the technical aspects of programming and problem-solving for electronics enthusiasts combining Lego builds with functional components.

Links and Downloads:

Download Code and Files

Bill of Material:

Product Name	Quantity	Buy Kit
RASPBERRY-PI SBC, Raspberry Pi3 A+, BCM2837B0, ARM Cortex-A53, 512MB RAM, MicroSD, Wifi, HDMI, 1×USB 2.0	1	Buy Now
MULTICOMP PRO MicroSD Card, 32 GB, Raspberry Pi	1	Buy Now
SEEED STUDIO Touch Sensor Board, with Cable, Capacitive, I2C, Arduino & Raspberry Pi Board	1	Buy Now
MULTICOMP MC001814 Tape, General Purpose, Copper Foil, 10 mm x 50 m	1	Buy Now
DFROBOT Evaluation Board, Mini Audio Stereo Amplifier, 3.3 V to 5.5 V Supply, Class D Amplifier	1	Buy Now
VISATON Speaker, Full Range, 2 W, 8 ohm, 150 Hz to 20 kHz	1	Buy Now
PRO SIGNAL 3.5MM JACK PLUG TO BARE ENDS -1M	1	Buy Now

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beacon_dave over 1 year ago in reply to beacon_dave +1

Oh, and since there is a video output on the R-Pi going spare... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9jHKhvw4Tg could double as a control interface for all those virtual effects pedals

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beacon_dave over 1 year ago

Well done, but this could be the start of a slippery slope. It will be a full drum kit on the Xmas list before you know it...
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hifromkatie over 1 year ago in reply to beacon_dave

He's been playing acoustic guitar for a little over a year, so I've got a feeling a (real) electric might end up on his list soon
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beacon_dave over 1 year ago in reply to hifromkatie

There used to be loads of little electronics projects for electric guitars. The hard part is playing the thing though...
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beacon_dave over 1 year ago in reply to hifromkatie

You could perhaps make your own electr(on)ic. Buy the neck and bridge but then make the body and customise it - e.g. infinity mirror. Build in an effects unit, add a Bluetooth transmitter, backing track media player etc.

You could also have a go at customising the neck with fingering positions that light up in time to a backing track or some sort of training tutor/game. Make learning a lot more interactive and a lot more fun.
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beacon_dave over 1 year ago in reply to hifromkatie

You could perhaps make your own electr(on)ic. Buy the neck and bridge but then make the body and customise it - e.g. infinity mirror. Build in an effects unit, add a Bluetooth transmitter, backing track media player etc.

You could also have a go at customising the neck with fingering positions that light up in time to a backing track or some sort of training tutor/game. Make learning a lot more interactive and a lot more fun.
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