Weight-Powered Monochord ALU
High tension you can hear
The Weight-Powered Monochord consists of an aluminum frame plus a string mounted to a movable footboard.
Players can shift their weight to alter the tension of the string and hence its pitch. The instrument uses a gas tank to amplify the sound.
Facts & Data
- Materials - Aluminum, silkscreen printing plate, gas tank, twine
- Sound - Acoustic: quiet; amplified: can be adjusted
- Setting and usage - Either inside or out; waterproof
- Setup time - 15 minutes
- Exhibit duration - Hours, days, weeks or months
- Type of mounting/installation - Freestanding
- Space required - 1.5 x 1.5 meters plus surrounding space
Games & Activities
- Nomber of players - 1
- Instructions - Step on the board, pluck the string, listen, shift weight, compare
- Supervision - Medium; operations should be displayed every now and then
- Fun factor - Low to medium, individual use
- Playing time - 1-3 minutes
Knowledge & Experience
- Relationship between pitch and tension
- No tension: no sound
- The more tension the higher the pitch
- Gas tank as resonating body
- Movement causes melodies
