Published August 31, 2021

Let's Make Music

Craft and play musical scores using music notations

BeginnerProtip975

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Arduino UNO

Any Arduino microcontroller would be okay

Speaker: 0.25W, 8 ohms

Alternatively use a piezo buzzer

Jumper wires (generic)

Just a couple to connect the speaker to to microcontroller

Resistor 100 ohm

Use in series with the spaker

Solderless Breadboard Half Size

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE

Story

Let's Make Music in a Nut Shell

If you love Arduino and have a rudimentary understanding of music then why not have some fun with Let's Make Music?

With a very basic kit list and using very few, very short and basic functions, it is possible to craft quite detailed musical scores to play on a simply configured Arduino and speaker. The results can be quite startling and rewarding!

Capabilities

To give you some idea of the 'lets make music' sketch capabilities, I crafted several quite complex scores by a number of legendary popular artists all of which played faithfully. Unfortunately, I am not able to publish these due to copyright. I have, though, included other examples out-of-the-box (OOTB) which provide helpful demonstrations of capability and guidance to help you get started on your own scores.

The Hardware

Couldn't be simpler - all you will need is an Arduino microcontroller (any should be okay), a 100 ohm resistor, a small bread board, some wires and, preferably, an 8 ohm 0.25 watt speaker (or a buzzer if you don't have a speaker to hand).

The wiring diagram is as shown below at Schematics, but it is a very simple circuit to put together. The sketch uses digital output pin 11 to drive the speaker, but if you wish to use another, then choose a suitable alternative pin and change the definition '#define speaker' in the sketch as required.

I should advise that the microcontroller should not be directly connected to anything but a speaker/buzzer as outlined, otherwise you may damage your microcontroller.

Let's Make Music

The sketch includes everything needed to put together your own musical scores and compositions using basic and standard musical terms and concepts. For example, the sketch includes a comprehensive set of standard tempos, preset notes covering several octaves and common note/rest time values based on the selected tempo.

The sketch provides five functions you can use for creating and playing music. These are:

set_tempo - sets the tempo (pace) of a musical piece in beats per minute (i.e. crotchets per minute), eg set_tempo(allegro), set_tempo(144), etc. The value of a crotchet is calculated as 60/tempo seconds. All other note durations are then determined from this calculated value. At sketch start up, the tempo is set to the default_tempo (animato), or 120 beats (crotchets) per minute). The tempo will remain at this setting until changed by the user code.

play - will play the given note for the given duration, eg play(note_C4, minim) will play middle C for the duration of a minim, play(note_FS2, crot + quav) will play F2 sharp for the duration of a crotchet + a quaver, etc. Of course, how quickly these play depends on the tempo set.

rest - rests for the given duration, during which time silence is maintained, eg rest(quav), rest(0.5), etc. Remember that rests also work with respect to the current tempo.

trill - performs a trill with the given two notes continually one after the other for the given duration, eg trill(note_C4, note_CS4, minim), trill(note_F3, note_E3, crot), etc. By default and OOTB, the trill performs eight note changes per crotchet, or part thereof, depending on the trill duration given in its function call, irrespective of the tempo set. If fewer or more note changes per crotchet are required then reset the definition '#define trills_per_crotchet'. Remember that trills also work with respect to the current tempo.

wait - waits for the given duration (seconds or part thereof), eg wait(5.5) waits for 5.5 seconds, wait(minim) waits for the duration of a minim, etc. This function is used by the play and rest functions but it may also for used in the end user code.

Let's look at an example of a familiar tune (Happy Birthday):

 // Happy_Birthday
 set_tempo(default_tempo);
 // bar 1
 play(note_G3, quav);
 play(note_G3, quav);
 play(note_A3, crot);
 play(note_G3, crot);
 // bar 2
 play(note_C4, crot);
 play(note_B3, minim);
 // bar 3
 play(note_G3, quav);
 play(note_G3, quav);
 play(note_A3, crot);
 play(note_G3, crot);
 // bar 4
 play(note_D4, crot);
 play(note_C4, minim);
 // bar 5
 play(note_G3, quav);
 play(note_G3, quav);
 play(note_G4, crot);
 play(note_E4, crot);
 // bar 6
 play(note_C4, crot);
 play(note_B3, crot);
 play(note_A3, crot);
 // bar 7
 play(note_F4, quav);
 play(note_F4, quav);
 play(note_E4, crot);
 play(note_C4, crot);
 // bar 8
 play(note_D4, crot);
 play(note_C4, minim);

To notice about the above example is:

the tempo for the score has been set to default_tempo (120 beats per minute)

the score has been structured in bars. In this example there are three beats to the bar (3/4 time). This is a helpful approach when you are entering your own scores as it allows you to follow the music and easily pick out the incorrect notes and/or time durations that you will undoubtedly introduce in error!

the notes are played one after the next (single channel design) referencing note values from the sketch's note definitions (see the Crib Sheet for a readily accessible list of these and other useful bits and pieces)

each note is played for a specified time/duration using standard musical notation, eg crot(chet), minim, quav(er), etc. Again, use the Crib Sheet for easy access to these.

Let's look at another short example, one you will know when you play it:

 set_tempo(default_tempo * 2); // lively pace
 // 3/4 time
 // bar 1
 play(note_C4, minim);
 play(note_G3, crot);
 // bar 2
 play(note_G3, crot);
 play(note_GS3, minim);
 // bar 3
 play(note_G3, minim);
 rest(note_crot);
 // bar 4
 play(note_B3, minim);
 play(note_C4, crot);
 set_tempo(default_tempo); // reset tempo

To notice about the above example is:

we up the tempo to twice the default - 240 beats per minute

we introduce a short rest in the middle of the piece at bar 3 worth one crot(chet)

we reset the tempo to default when the piece finishes.

And, finally in this section, let's look back at Happy Birthday, this time we will add a trill at the start of each odd bar:

 //_Happy_trill_Birthday
 set_tempo(default_tempo);
 // 3/4 time
 // bar 1
 trill(note_G3, note_GS3, quav);
 play(note_G3, quav);
 play(note_A3, crot);
 play(note_G3, crot);
 // bar 2
 play(note_C4, crot);
 play(note_B3, minim);
 // bar 3
 trill(note_G3, note_GS3, quav);
 play(note_note_G3, quav);
 play(note_A3, crot);
 play(note_G3, crot);
 // bar 4
 play(note_D4, crot);
 play(note_C4, minim);
 // bar 5
 trill(note_G3, 
 play(note_G3, quav);
 play(note_G4, crot);
 play(note_E4, crot);
 // bar 6
 play(note_C4, crot);
 play(note_B3, crot);
 play(note_A3, crot);
 // bar 7
 trill(note_F4, note_FS4, quav);
 play(note_F4, quav);
 play(note_E4, crot);
 play(note_C4, crot);
 // bar 8
 play(note_D4, crot);
 play(note_C4, minim);

It is the same melody we are used to but with a little twist. The trill function is a simple implementation of a musical trill, but should provide some interest in your scores.

Hopefully, by this point you understand the principles being applied?

A Few Useful Pointers and Techniques...

Triplets

A triplet is a single beat divided into three notes of equal time duration and is normally indicated by a '3' above the triplet notes. This is easily modelled, for example if we have the following three notes defined as a triplet - A3, AS3 and B3 and worth one crotchet then we would simply transcribe this as:

// crotchet triplet
play(note_A3, crot/3);
play(note_AS3, crot/3); 
play(note_B3, crot/3);

The same idea would apply for any division.

Ties

A tied note is a musical notation represented by a curved line that connects two notes of the same pitch. In a tie, the second note is not played but its duration value is added to the first note. So, for example, if a score shows two tied notes, say note_AF3 both with duration of a crotchet then we would represent this as play(note_AF3, crot + crot), or play(note_AF3, minim). The first representation is better as it infers we are playing a tied note. Be aware that tied notes can often extend from the end of one bar to the next. In these instances, it helps to mark this in any comment you include describing the bar/s.

Another example might be two notes, say note_F4 the first with a duration value of a crotchet and the second with a duration value of a quaver. We would represent this as play(note_F4, crot + quav). And so on.

Compounded Note and Rest Durations

We saw in the above techniques how we were able to compound and manipulate note durations to meet the precise needs of a score to represent triplets and ties. This same technique is equally applicable to the rest and trill functions where note durations are required. In fact, any arithmetic combination is permissible so long as it makes sense, for example play(note_D5, minim + crot + quav), rest(crot + quav), trill(note_G2, note_GS2, dot_minim + quav/2), etc.

Tempos

Whilst the sketch provides a list of standard tempo definitions, any value may be specified by the set_tempo function. So, if you need a tempo that is not in the standard list then simply specify your own. For example set_tempo(95) which is between maestroso (88 beats per minute) and moderato (100 beats per minute), and so on.

Repeats

Often a section of a score is repeated. Rather than duplicating the same set and series of notes/rests it can be helpful to use labels and the (dreaded) goto statement. To do this it will be necessary to detect if a section of the score has already been repeated or not. This can be managed using a simple variable which has one of two states - 'false' if the repeat section has not yet been repeated or 'true' otherwise. For example:

...
bool repeated = false;
...
repeat_1:
play(note_B3, crot);
rest(quav);
play(note_C4, quav);
play(note_D4, crot+quav);  // dotted crotchet
play(note_C4, quav);
...
If (repeated == false){
repeated = true;  
play(note_A3, crot);  
rest(crot);  
play(note_C4, crot);  
play(note_D4, crot);  
goto repeat;
}
// continue with the rest of the score...

My apologies to the purists amongst you but in this instance the use of a goto is simple, clear and easily implemented, even with scores having multiple repeated sections. Feel free to make use of do/while or while constructs if these fit your needs better.

Transcribing a Score

It helps to be orderly and structured when coding a musical score into music commands. Work bar by bar according to the score's time signature, commenting each bar with its bar number and adding any other comments that may be helpful. This approach assists in debugging your code as I can guarantee that you will introduce incorrect notes and/or note/rest durations. Listening to the score playing for accuracy whilst reading through the code bar by bar soon identifies where things are wrong.

Out of the Box

The Let's Make Music sketch includes all of the musical data and functions needed to put together your own scores. Also included are a number of musical score examples so you can see how the various sketch functions are used and also so that you may play music on your Arduino straight away.

The example scores are provided as functions, for convenience, and may be referenced directly from the main void loop in any order. If assembling several score functions, one after the other, then add a wait(..) function call between each so that you get a short break between one ending and the next starting, eg wait(3) will wait for three seconds.

The musical score functions provided OOTB are:

middle_C

twinkle_twinkle (little star)

silent_night

jingle_bells

happy_birthday

ditty_1

door_bell_1

door_bell_2

ode_to_joy (Beethoven)

canon_in_D (Pachelbel)

scarborough_fair

Finally

The Let's Make Music sketch is all about having some fun making music with Arduino. It is not overly sophisticated, but provides a few simple and basic commands that yield very good results. Download and print the Crib Sheet as a handy and quick reference to all of the sketch's musical data definitions and functions.

Above all, enjoy making music on Arduino and have fun!

Code

Let's Make Music Sketch

//
// let's make music
//
// Ron D Bentley, Stafford, UK, August 2021
// Modified:
//   Oct 2022 to remove compliler warning re redfinition
//   of macros for some macro locally defined notes, eg B0, B1, etc. 
//   Local naming convention for notes now prefixed with "note_".
//
// This example and code is in the public domain and
// may be used without restriction and without warranty.
//
// %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
// % music/tone data and functions... %
// %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

//
// Tempos, by common musical names
//
#define  grave          40
#define  largo          46
#define  lento          52
#define  adagio         56
#define  larghetto      60
#define  adagietto      66
#define  andante        72
#define  andantino      80
#define  maestroso      88
#define  moderato      100
#define  allegretto    104
#define  animato       120
#define  allegro       132
#define  allegro_assai 144
#define  vivace        160
#define  presto        184
#define  prestissimo   208

//
// Public constants - reflects the 'pitches.h' file,
// but with a different (shortened) note naming convention.
// The values are the frequencies (hz) of the notes.
//
#define note_B0  31
#define note_C1  33
#define note_CS1 35
#define note_DF1 35
#define note_D1  37
#define note_DS1 39
#define note_EF1 39
#define note_E1  41
#define note_F1  44
#define note_FS1 46
#define note_GF1 46
#define note_G1  49
#define note_GS1 52
#define note_AF1 52
#define note_A1  55
#define note_AS1 58
#define note_BF1 58
#define note_b1  62
#define note_C2  65
#define note_CS2 69
#define note_DF2 69
#define note_D2  73
#define note_DS2 78
#define note_EF2 78
#define note_E2  82
#define note_F2  87
#define note_FS2 93
#define note_GF2 93
#define note_G2  98
#define note_GS2 104
#define note_AF2 104
#define note_A2  110
#define note_as2 117
#define note_BF2 117
#define note_B2  123
#define note_C3  131
#define note_CS3 139
#define note_DF3 139
#define note_D3  147
#define note_DS3 156
#define note_EF3 156
#define note_E3  165
#define note_F3  175
#define note_FS3 185
#define note_GF3 185
#define note_G3  196
#define note_GS3 208
#define note_AF3 208
#define note_A3  220
#define note_AS3 233
#define note_BF3 233
#define note_B3  247
#define note_C4  262 // <--------- middle C
#define note_CS4 277
#define note_DF4 277
#define note_D4  294
#define note_DS4 311
#define note_EF4 311
#define note_E4  330
#define note_F4  349
#define note_FS4 370
#define note_GF4 370
#define note_G4  392
#define note_GS4 415
#define note_AF4 415
#define note_A4  440
#define note_AS4 466
#define note_BF4 466
#define note_B4  494
#define note_C5  523
#define note_CS5 554
#define note_DF5 554
#define note_D5  587
#define note_DS5 622
#define note_EF5 622
#define note_E5  659
#define note_F5  698
#define note_FS5 740
#define note_GF5 740
#define note_G5  784
#define note_GS5 831
#define note_AF5 831
#define note_A5  880
#define note_AS5 932
#define note_BF5 932
#define note_B5  988
#define note_C6  1047
#define note_CS6 1109
#define note_DF6 1109
#define note_D6  1175
#define note_DS6 1245
#define note_EF6 1245
#define note_E6  1319
#define note_F6  1397
#define note_FS6 1480
#define note_GF6 1480
#define note_G6  1568
#define note_GS6 1661
#define note_AF6 1661
#define note_A6  1760
#define note_AS6 1865
#define note_BF6 1865
#define note_B6  1976
#define note_C7  2093
#define note_CS7 2217
#define note_DF7 2217
#define note_D7  2349
#define note_DS7 2489
#define note_EF7 2489
#define note_E7  2637
#define note_F7  2794
#define note_FS7 2960
#define note_GF7 2960
#define note_G7  3136
#define note_GS7 3322
#define note_AF7 3322
#define note_A7  3520
#define note_AS7 3729
#define note_BF7 3729
#define note_B7  3951
#define note_C8  4186
#define note_CS8 4435
#define note_DF8 4435
#define note_D8  4699
#define note_DS8 4978
#define note_EF8 4978

#define speaker                11     // digital pin number for speaker/buzzer

float default_tempo = float(animato); // default tempo - beats per minute
float current_tempo = default_tempo;
float timings[7];                     // holds timings for each defined note/rest time value
#define trills_per_crotchet     8     // number of note changes in a trill per crotchet
float trill_duration;                 // set depending on the tempo selected

//
// Standard note/rest duration definitions, set in the set_tempo function
//
#define semib       timings[0] // 4 beats
#define dot_minim   timings[1] // 3 beats
#define minim       timings[2] // 2 beats
#define crot        timings[3] // 1 beat
#define quav        timings[4] // 1/2 beat
#define semiq       timings[5] // 1/4 beat
#define demi_semiq  timings[6] // 1/8 beat

//
// Function waits for the given time in seconds, or part thereof.
//
void wait(float duration) {
  uint32_t start;
  start = millis();
  duration = duration * 1000; // convert to milliseconds
  do {
  } while (millis() - start <= duration);
}

//
// Set tempo by adjusting durations of note/rest timings
//
void set_tempo(float new_tempo) {
  float crotchet_duration;
  current_tempo = new_tempo;           // keep current tempo up to date in case it needs to be queried
  crotchet_duration = 60 / new_tempo;  // timing in seconds for 1 beat
  semib      = crotchet_duration * 4;  // semibrieve, 4 beats
  dot_minim  = crotchet_duration * 3;  // dotted mimin, 3 beats
  minim      = crotchet_duration * 2;  // minim, 2 beats
  crot       = crotchet_duration;      // crotchet, 1 beat
  quav       = crotchet_duration / 2;  // quaver, 1/2 beat
  semiq      = crotchet_duration / 4;  // semiquaver, 1/4 beat
  demi_semiq = crotchet_duration / 8;  // demi-semi-quaver, 1/8 beat

  // Set the note duration time for one note in a trill depending on the
  // defined number of note changes in a trill per crotchet.
  trill_duration = crot / trills_per_crotchet;
}

//
// Play given note for given duration in seconds, or part thereof.
// Observe that this function is 'blocking', although the tone
// function is 'non-blocking', ie control stays with the function
// until note has completed.
//
void play(int note, float note_duration) {
  tone(speaker, note, note_duration * 1000); // play the given note for the given duration
  wait(note_duration);                       // wait for note to complete
}

//
// Function performs a basic trill with given two notes for the given duration
//
void trill(int note_1, int note_2, float note_duration) {
  note_duration = note_duration * 1000; // convert to milliseconds
  uint32_t start = millis();
  do {
    play(note_1, trill_duration);
    play(note_2, trill_duration);
  } while (millis() - start < note_duration);
}

//
// Rest for given duration in seconds, or part thereof.
//
void rest(float rest_duration) {
  noTone(speaker);      // ensure no tone is currently playing
  wait(rest_duration);  // wait for given rest to complete
}

void setup() {
  // set up speaker
  pinMode(speaker, OUTPUT);
  // set up note/rest timings, based on the default unit beat time (default_tempo)
  set_tempo(default_tempo);
}

void loop() {
  // some music examples...

  middle_C();
  wait(3);

  twinkle_twinkle();
  wait(3);

  silent_night();
  wait(3);

  jingle_bells();
  wait(3);

  happy_birthday();
  wait(3);

  ditty_1();
  wait(3);

  door_bell_1();
  wait(3);

  door_bell_2();
  wait(3);

  ode_to_joy();
  wait(3);

  canon_in_D();
  wait(3);

  scarborough_fair();
  wait(3);

  // and back to the beginning...
}

//
// %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
// %        Example out-of-the-box 'shrink-wrapped' music commands         %
// %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%



void middle_C() {
  // 4/4 time
  // C major scale - up
  // bar 1
  play(note_C4, crot);
  play(note_D4, crot);
  play(note_E4, crot);
  play(note_F4, crot);
  // bar 2
  play(note_G4, crot);
  play(note_A4, crot);
  play(note_B4, crot);
  play(note_C5, crot);
  // bar 3
  rest(semib);
  // C major scale - down
  // bar 4
  play(note_C5, crot);
  play(note_B4, crot);
  play(note_A4, crot);
  play(note_G4, crot);
  // bar 5
  play(note_F4, crot);
  play(note_E4, crot);
  play(note_D4, crot);
  play(note_C4, crot);
}

void twinkle_twinkle() {
  set_tempo(default_tempo);
  // 4/4 time
  // bar 1 - Twinkle, twinkle
  play(note_C4, crot);
  play(note_C4, crot);
  play(note_G4, crot);
  play(note_G4, crot);
  // bar 2 - little star
  play(note_A4, crot);
  play(note_A4, crot);
  play(note_G4, crot);
  rest(crot);
  // bar 3 - How I wonder
  play(note_F4, crot);
  play(note_F4, crot);
  play(note_E4, crot);
  play(note_E4, crot);
  // bar 4 - what you are
  play(note_D4, crot);
  play(note_D4, crot);
  play(note_C4, crot);
  rest(crot);
  // bar 5 - Up above the
  play(note_G4, crot);
  play(note_G4, crot);
  play(note_F4, crot);
  play(note_F4, crot);
  // bar 6 - world so high
  play(note_E4, crot);
  play(note_E4, crot);
  play(note_D4, crot);
  rest(crot);
  // bar 7 - Like a diamond
  play(note_G4, crot);
  play(note_G4, crot);
  play(note_F4, crot);
  play(note_F4, crot);
  // bar 8 - in the sky
  play(note_E4, crot);
  play(note_E4, crot);
  play(note_D4, crot);
  rest(crot);
  // bar 9 - Twinkle, twinkle
  play(note_C4, crot);
  play(note_C4, crot);
  play(note_G4, crot);
  play(note_G4, crot);
  // bar 10 - little star
  play(note_A4, crot);
  play(note_A4, crot);
  play(note_G4, crot);
  rest(crot);
  // bar 11 - How I wonder
  play(note_F4, crot);
  play(note_F4, crot);
  play(note_E4, crot);
  play(note_E4, crot);
  // bar 12 - what you are
  play(note_D4, crot);
  play(note_D4, crot);
  play(note_C4, crot);
  rest(crot);
}

void jingle_bells() {
  set_tempo(default_tempo * 2); // very lively
  // 4/4 time
  // bar 1
  play(note_B3, crot);
  play(note_B3, crot);
  play(note_B3, minim);
  // bar 2
  play(note_B3, crot);
  play(note_B3, crot);
  play(note_B3, minim);
  // bar 3
  play(note_B3, crot);
  play(note_D4, crot);
  play(note_G3, crot);
  play(note_A3, crot);
  // bar 4
  play(note_B3, semib);
  // bar 5
  play(note_C4, crot);
  play(note_C4, crot);
  play(note_C4, crot);
  play(note_C4, crot);
  // bar 6
  play(note_C4, crot);
  play(note_B3, crot);
  play(note_B3, crot);
  play(note_B3, crot);
  // bar 7
  play(note_B3, crot);
  play(note_A3, crot);
  play(note_A3, crot);
  play(note_B3, crot);
  // bar 8
  play(note_A3, minim);
  play(note_D4, minim);
  // bar 9
  play(note_B3, crot);
  play(note_B3, crot);
  play(note_B3, minim);
  // bar 10
  play(note_B3, crot);
  play(note_B3, crot);
  play(note_B3, minim);
  // bar 11
  play(note_B3, crot);
  play(note_D4, crot);
  play(note_G3, crot);
  play(note_A3, crot);
  // bar 12
  play(note_B3, semib);
  // bar 13
  play(note_C4, crot);
  play(note_C4, crot);
  play(note_C4, crot);
  play(note_C4, crot);
  // bar 14
  play(note_C4, crot);
  play(note_B3, crot);
  play(note_B3, crot);
  play(note_B3, crot);
  // bar 15
  play(note_D4, crot);
  play(note_D4, crot);
  play(note_C4, crot);
  play(note_A3, crot);
  // bar 16
  play(note_G3, semib);
  set_tempo(default_tempo); // reset tempo
}

void happy_birthday() {
  set_tempo(default_tempo);
  // 3/4 time
  // bar 1
  play(note_G3, quav);
  play(note_G3, quav);
  play(note_A3, crot);
  play(note_G3, crot);
  // bar 2
  play(note_C4, crot);
  play(note_B3, minim);
  // bar 3
  play(note_G3, quav);
  play(note_G3, quav);
  play(note_A3, crot);
  play(note_G3, crot);
  // bar 4
  play(note_D4, crot);
  play(note_C4, minim);
  // bar 5
  play(note_G3, quav);
  play(note_G3, quav);
  play(note_G4, crot);
  play(note_E4, crot);
  // bar 6
  play(note_C4, crot);
  play(note_B3, crot);
  play(note_A3, crot);
  // bar 7
  play(note_F4, quav);
  play(note_F4, quav);
  play(note_E4, crot);
  play(note_C4, crot);
  // bar 8
  play(note_D4, crot);
  play(note_C4, minim);
}

void ditty_1() {
  set_tempo(default_tempo * 2); // lively pace
  // 3/4 time
  // bar 1
  play(note_C4, minim);
  play(note_G3, crot);
  // bar 2
  play(note_G3, crot);
  play(note_GS3, minim);
  // bar 3
  play(note_G3, minim);
  rest(crot);
  // bar 4
  play(note_B3, minim);
  play(note_C4, crot);
  set_tempo(default_tempo); // reset tempo
}

void door_bell_1() {
  set_tempo(default_tempo);
  // 4/4 time
  // bar 1
  play(note_E4, minim);
  play(note_C4, minim);
  // bar 2
  play(note_D4, minim);
  play(note_G3, minim);
  // bar 3
  rest(semib);
  // bar 4
  play(note_G3, minim);
  play(note_D4, minim);
  // bar 5
  play(note_E4, minim);
  play(note_C4, minim);
}

void door_bell_2() {// basic bing/bong door chime
  set_tempo(default_tempo * 2); // lively pace
  // 3/4 time
  // bar 1
  play(note_E5, dot_minim);
  // bar 2
  play(note_C5, dot_minim);
  // bar 3
  rest(dot_minim);
  // bar 4
  play(note_E5, dot_minim);
  // bar 5
  play(note_C5, dot_minim);
  set_tempo(default_tempo);   // reset tempo
}

void ode_to_joy() {
  set_tempo(allegro);
  // 4/4 time
  //bar 1
  play(note_B4, crot);
  play(note_B4, crot);
  play(note_C5, crot);
  play(note_D5, crot);
  //bar 2
  play(note_D5, crot);
  play(note_C5, crot);
  play(note_B4, crot);
  play(note_A4, crot);
  //bar 3
  play(note_G4, crot);
  play(note_G4, crot);
  play(note_A4, crot);
  play(note_B4, crot);
  //bar 4
  play(note_B4, crot + quav);
  play(note_A4, quav);
  play(note_A4, minim);
  //bar 5
  play(note_B4, crot);
  play(note_B4, crot);
  play(note_C5, crot);
  play(note_D5, crot);
  //bar 6
  play(note_D5, crot);
  play(note_C5, crot);
  play(note_B4, crot);
  play(note_A4, crot);
  //bar 7
  play(note_G4, crot);
  play(note_G4, crot);
  play(note_A4, crot);
  play(note_B4, crot);
  //bar 8
  play(note_A4, crot + quav);
  play(note_G4, quav);
  play(note_G4, minim);
  //bar 9
  play(note_A4, crot);
  play(note_A4, crot);
  play(note_B4, crot);
  play(note_G4, crot);
  //bar 10
  play(note_A4, crot);
  play(note_B4, quav);
  play(note_C5, quav);
  play(note_B4, crot);
  play(note_G4, crot);
  //bar 11
  play(note_A4, crot);
  play(note_B4, quav);
  play(note_C5, quav);
  play(note_B4, crot);
  play(note_A4, crot);
  //bar 12
  play(note_G4, crot);
  play(note_A4, crot);
  play(note_D4, minim);
  //bar 13
  play(note_B4, crot);
  play(note_B4, crot);
  play(note_C5, crot);
  play(note_D5, crot);
  //bar 14
  play(note_D5, crot);
  play(note_C5, crot);
  play(note_B4, crot);
  play(note_A4, crot);
  //bar 15
  play(note_G4, crot);
  play(note_G4, crot);
  play(note_A4, crot);
  play(note_B4, crot);
  //bar 16
  play(note_A4, crot + quav);
  play(note_G4, quav);
  play(note_G4, minim);
}

void canon_in_D() {
  set_tempo(110);
  // 4/4 time
  // melody starts at bar 5
  // bar 5
  play(note_FS5, minim);
  play(note_E5, minim);
  // bar 6
  play(note_D5, minim);
  play(note_CS5, minim);
  // bar 7
  play(note_B4, minim);
  play(note_A4, minim);
  // bar 8
  play(note_B4, minim);
  play(note_CS5, minim);
  // bar 9
  play(note_FS5, minim);
  play(note_E5, minim);
  // bar 10
  play(note_D5, minim);
  play(note_CS5, minim);
  // bar 11
  play(note_B4, minim);
  play(note_A4, minim);
  // bar 12
  play(note_B4, minim);
  play(note_CS5, minim);
  // bar 13
  play(note_D4, crot);
  play(note_FS4, crot);
  play(note_A4, crot);
  play(note_G4, crot);
  // bar 14
  play(note_FS4, crot);
  play(note_D4, crot);
  play(note_FS4, crot);
  play(note_E4, crot);
  // bar 15
  play(note_D4, crot);
  play(note_B3, crot);
  play(note_D4, crot);
  play(note_A4, crot);
  // bar 16
  play(note_G4, crot);
  play(note_B4, crot);
  play(note_A4, crot);
  play(note_G4, crot);
  // bar 17
  play(note_FS4, crot);
  play(note_D4, crot);
  play(note_E4, crot);
  play(note_CS5, crot);
  // bar 18
  play(note_D5, crot);
  play(note_FS5, crot);
  play(note_A5, crot);
  play(note_A4, crot);
  // bar 19
  play(note_B4, crot);
  play(note_G4, crot);
  play(note_A4, crot);
  play(note_FS4, crot);
  // bar 20
  play(note_E4, crot);
  play(note_D5, crot);
  play(note_D5, crot + quav);
  play(note_CS5, quav);
  // bar 21
  play(note_D5, quav);
  play(note_CS5, quav);
  play(note_D5, quav);
  play(note_D4, quav);

  play(note_CS4, quav);
  play(note_A4, quav);
  play(note_E4, quav);
  play(note_FS4, quav);
  // bar 22
  play(note_D4, quav);
  play(note_D5, quav);
  play(note_CS5, quav);
  play(note_B4, quav);

  play(note_CS5, quav);
  play(note_FS5, quav);
  play(note_A5, quav);
  play(note_B5, quav);
  // bar 23
  play(note_G5, quav);
  play(note_FS5, quav);
  play(note_E5, quav);
  play(note_G5, quav);

  play(note_FS5, quav);
  play(note_E5, quav);
  play(note_D5, quav);
  play(note_CS5, quav);
  // bar 24
  play(note_B4, quav);
  play(note_A4, quav);
  play(note_G4, quav);
  play(note_FS4, quav);

  play(note_E4, quav);
  play(note_G4, quav);
  play(note_FS4, quav);
  play(note_E4, quav);
  // bar 25
  play(note_D4, quav);
  play(note_E4, quav);
  play(note_FS4, quav);
  play(note_G4, quav);

  play(note_A4, quav);
  play(note_E4, quav);
  play(note_A4, quav);
  play(note_G4, quav);
  // bar 26
  play(note_FS4, quav);
  play(note_B4, quav);
  play(note_A4, quav);
  play(note_G4, quav);

  play(note_A4, quav);
  play(note_G4, quav);
  play(note_FS4, quav);
  play(note_E4, quav);
  // bar 27
  play(note_D4, quav);
  play(note_B3, quav);
  play(note_B4, quav);
  play(note_CS5, quav);

  play(note_D5, quav);
  play(note_CS5, quav);
  play(note_B4, quav);
  play(note_A4, quav);
  // bar 28
  play(note_G4, quav);
  play(note_FS4, quav);
  play(note_E4, quav);
  play(note_B4, quav);

  play(note_A4, quav);
  play(note_B4, quav);
  play(note_A4, quav);
  play(note_G4, quav);
  // bar 29
  play(note_FS4, crot);
  play(note_FS5, crot);
  play(note_E5, minim);
  // bar 30
  rest(crot);
  play(note_D5, crot);
  play(note_FS5, minim);
  // bar 31
  play(note_B5, minim);
  play(note_A5, minim);
  // bar 32
  play(note_B5, minim);
  play(note_CS6, minim);
  // bar 33
  play(note_D6, crot);
  play(note_D5, crot);
  play(note_CS5, minim);
  // bar 34
  rest(crot);
  play(note_B5, crot);
  play(note_D5, minim);
  // bar 35
  play(note_D5, dot_minim);
  play(note_D5, crot);
  // bar 36
  play(note_D5, crot);
  play(note_G5, crot);
  play(note_E5, crot);
  play(note_A5, crot);
  // bar 37
  play(note_A5, quav);
  play(note_FS5, semiq);
  play(note_G5, semiq);

  play(note_A5, quav);
  play(note_FS5, semiq);
  play(note_G5, semiq);

  play(note_A5, semiq);
  play(note_A4, semiq);
  play(note_B4, semiq);
  play(note_CS5, semiq);

  play(note_D5, semiq);
  play(note_E5, semiq);
  play(note_FS5, semiq);
  play(note_G5, semiq);
  // bar 38
  play(note_FS5, quav);
  play(note_D5, semiq);
  play(note_E5, semiq);

  play(note_FS5, quav);
  play(note_FS4, semiq);
  play(note_G4, semiq);

  play(note_A4, semiq);
  play(note_B4, semiq);
  play(note_A4, semiq);
  play(note_G4, semiq);

  play(note_A4, semiq);
  play(note_FS4, semiq);
  play(note_G4, semiq);
  play(note_A4, semiq);
  // bar 39
  play(note_G4, quav);
  play(note_B4, semiq);
  play(note_A4, semiq);

  play(note_G4, quav);
  play(note_FS4, semiq);
  play(note_E4, semiq);

  play(note_FS4, semiq);
  play(note_E4, semiq);
  play(note_D4, semiq);
  play(note_E4, semiq);

  play(note_FS4, semiq);
  play(note_G4, semiq);
  play(note_A4, semiq);
  play(note_B4, semiq);
  // bar 40
  play(note_G4, quav);
  play(note_B4, semiq);
  play(note_A4, semiq);

  play(note_B4, quav);
  play(note_CS5, semiq);
  play(note_D5, semiq);

  play(note_A4, semiq);
  play(note_B4, semiq);
  play(note_CS5, semiq);
  play(note_D5, semiq);

  play(note_E5, semiq);
  play(note_FS5, semiq);
  play(note_G5, semiq);
  play(note_A5, semiq);
  // bar 41
  play(note_FS5, quav);
  play(note_D5, semiq);
  play(note_E5, semiq);

  play(note_FS5, quav);
  play(note_E4, semiq);
  play(note_D5, semiq);

  play(note_E5, semiq);
  play(note_CS5, semiq);
  play(note_D5, semiq);
  play(note_E5, semiq);

  play(note_FS5, semiq);
  play(note_E5, semiq);
  play(note_D5, semiq);
  play(note_CS5, semiq);
  // bar 42
  play(note_D5, quav);
  play(note_B5, semiq);
  play(note_CS5, semiq);

  play(note_D5, quav);
  play(note_D4, semiq);
  play(note_E4, semiq);

  play(note_FS4, semiq);
  play(note_G4, semiq);
  play(note_FS4, semiq);
  play(note_E4, semiq);

  play(note_FS4, semiq);
  play(note_D5, semiq);
  play(note_CS5, semiq);
  play(note_D5, semiq);
  // bar 43
  play(note_B4, quav);
  play(note_D5, semiq);
  play(note_CS5, semiq);

  play(note_B4, quav);
  play(note_A4, semiq);
  play(note_G4, semiq);

  play(note_A4, semiq);
  play(note_G4, semiq);
  play(note_FS4, semiq);
  play(note_G4, semiq);

  play(note_A4, semiq);
  play(note_B4, semiq);
  play(note_CS5, semiq);
  play(note_D5, semiq);
  // bar 44
  play(note_B4, quav);
  play(note_D5, semiq);
  play(note_CS5, semiq);

  play(note_D5, quav);
  play(note_D5, semiq);
  play(note_CS5, semiq);

  play(note_CS5, semiq);
  play(note_D5, semiq);
  play(note_E5, semiq);
  play(note_D5, semiq);

  play(note_CS5, semiq);
  play(note_D5, semiq);
  play(note_B4, semiq);
  play(note_CS5, semiq);
  // bar 45
  play(note_D5, crot + quav);
  play(note_FS5, quav);
  play(note_FS5, quav);
  play(note_G5, quav);
  play(note_FS5, quav);
  play(note_E5, quav);
  // bar 46
  play(note_D5, crot + quav);
  play(note_D5, quav);
  play(note_D5, quav);
  play(note_E5, quav);
  play(note_D5, quav);
  play(note_CS5, quav);
  // bar 47
  play(note_B4, minim);
  play(note_D5, minim);
  // bar 48
  play(note_D5, quav);
  play(note_C5, quav);
  play(note_B4, quav);
  play(note_C5, quav);
  play(note_A4, crot);
  play(note_CS5, crot);
  // bar 49
  play(note_D5, crot + quav);
  play(note_A5, quav);
  play(note_A5, quav);
  play(note_B5, quav);
  play(note_A5, quav);
  play(note_G5, quav);
  // bar 50
  play(note_FS5, crot + quav);
  play(note_FS5, quav);
  play(note_FS5, quav);
  play(note_G5, quav);
  play(note_FS5, quav);
  play(note_E5, quav);
  // bar 51
  play(note_D5, quav);
  play(note_C5, quav);
  play(note_B4, quav);
  play(note_C5, quav);
  play(note_A4, crot + quav);
  play(note_A4, quav);
  // bar 52
  play(note_G4, crot);
  play(note_D5, crot);
  play(note_CS5, crot + quav);
  play(note_CS5, quav);
  // bar 53
  play(note_D5, semib);
}

void scarborough_fair() {
  // B flat / A sharp, 3/4 time
  // bar 1
  // run through twice
  for (uint8_t pass = 1; pass <= 2; pass++) {
    set_tempo(180);
    play(note_D4, minim);
    play(note_D4, crot);
    // bar 2
    play(note_A4, minim);
    play(note_A4, crot);
    // bar 3
    play(note_E4, crot + quav);
    play(note_F4, quav);
    play(note_E4, crot);
    // bar 4
    play(note_D4, dot_minim);
    // bar 5
    rest(crot);
    play(note_A4, crot);
    play(note_C5, crot);
    // bar 6
    play(note_D5, minim);
    play(note_C5, crot);
    // bar 7
    play(note_A4, crot);
    play(note_B4, crot);
    play(note_G4, crot);
    // bar 8 & 9
    play(note_A4, dot_minim + minim);
    play(note_D5, crot);
    // bar 10
    play(note_D5, minim);
    play(note_D5, crot);
    // bar 11
    play(note_C5, minim);
    play(note_A4, crot);
    // bar 12
    play(note_A4, crot);
    play(note_G4, crot);
    play(note_F4, crot);
    // bar 13
    play(note_E4, minim );
    play(note_A4, crot);
    // bar 14
    play(note_D4, minim);
    play(note_A4, crot);
    // bar 15
    play(note_G4, minim);
    play(note_F4, crot);
    // bar 16
    play(note_E4, crot);
    play(note_D4, crot);
    play(note_C4, crot);
    // bar 17 & 18
    play(note_D4, dot_minim + dot_minim);
    rest(dot_minim);
  }

}

void silent_night() {
  // 3/4 time
  set_tempo(default_tempo);
  // bar 1
  play(note_G4, crot + quav);
  play(note_A4, quav);
  play(note_G4, crot);
  // bar 2
  play(note_E4, dot_minim);
  // bar 3
  play(note_G4, crot + quav);
  play(note_A4, quav);
  play(note_G4, crot);
  // bar 4
  play(note_E4, dot_minim);
  // bar 5
  play(note_D5, minim);
  play(note_D5, crot);
  // bar 6
  play(note_B4, dot_minim);
  // bar 7
  play(note_C5, minim);
  play(note_C5, crot);
  // bar 8
  play(note_G4, dot_minim);
  // bars 9-12 and 13-16 are identical so repeat twice
  for (uint8_t pass = 1; pass <= 2; pass++) {
    // bar 9, bar 13
    play(note_A4, minim);
    play(note_A4, crot);
    // bar 10, bar 14
    play(note_C5, crot + quav);
    play(note_B4, quav);
    play(note_A4, crot);
    // bar 11, bar 15
    play(note_G4, crot + quav);
    play(note_A4, quav);
    play(note_G4, crot);
    // bar 12, bar 16
    play(note_E4, dot_minim);
  }
  // bar 17
  play(note_D5, minim);
  play(note_D5, crot);
  // bar 18
  play(note_F5, crot + quav);
  play(note_D5, quav);
  play(note_B4, crot);
  // bar 19
  play(note_C5, dot_minim);
  // bar 20
  play(note_E5, dot_minim);
  // bar 21
  play(note_C5, crot);
  play(note_G4, crot);
  play(note_E4, crot);
  // bar 22
  play(note_G4, crot + quav);
  play(note_F4, quav);
  play(note_D4, crot);
  // bars 23 & 24
  play(note_C4, dot_minim + dot_minim);
}

Credits

ronbentley1

25 projects • 13 followers

Let's Make Music

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Let's Make Music in a Nut Shell

Capabilities

The Hardware

Let's Make Music

A Few Useful Pointers and Techniques...

Out of the Box

Finally

Further Reading

Schematics

Arduino with 8 ohm 0.25 W Speaker

Code

Let's Make Music Sketch

Credits

ronbentley1

Comments

Embed the widget on your own site

Let's Make Music

Let's Make Music

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Let's Make Music in a Nut Shell

Capabilities

The Hardware

Let's Make Music

A Few Useful Pointers and Techniques...

Out of the Box

Finally

Further Reading

Schematics

Arduino with 8 ohm 0.25 W Speaker

Code

Let's Make Music Sketch

Credits

ronbentley1

Comments

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