For the Xylophone, sound is made when the bars or pipes vibrate. When the pipes are hit, the energy is transferred to the pipes which makes them vibrates which then vibrates air particles around it. The pitch of the sound depends on the size of the pipes and also the type of material the pipe is made out of. In order to make a xylophone, I'm going to get copper pipes and use calculations to determine how long they have to be to make the notes that I want them to make. After I cut the pipes to the correct lengths, I will have them sit on a piece of wood, but make sure that the ends aren't fixed, so the pipes can vibrate.

I will be playing bass in my musical group. In order to play base one must fist get a guitar, then set us the frets appropriately to fit the sound of the song. Usually, the bass carries the deepest tone, and its always constant. Its actually the backbone of the song, and must be held by plucking the frets throughout the song. Unlike the rest of the instruments, it doesn't change at all past its consistent four count. In order to change a note you have put a finger on a different fret and continue strumming. This particular guitar is shaped like a rounded rectangle with a squeeze towards the middle, but the shape actually doesn't matter, so long as it has a hole directly under the strings for the sound to escape.

When you pluck the strings, the sound waves head into the hole directly beneath them, and resonate inside, bounding off the walls to enhance the sound and give it longevity. In addition to that, you can see the strings vibrating after you pluck them.

In a ukelele sound is produced through sound waves, created by vibrations. Vibrations are created from energy transfer from the strings being strummed. Depending on how hard you strum the more the strings will vibrate and the louder the sound will be.
Specifically, pitch is be changed through the tension of the strings at the head of the guitar and where you apply pressure to the strings on the neck. For instance, if you apply pressure to the strings onto a fret close to the center of the guitar, the pitch of will be higher and vice versa; if pressure was applied closer to the head of the guitar then the pitch would be deeper.

What materials will you actually be using for your instrument and why?
I will be using a wooden box, strings wooden rods or poles for the neck and guitar stings. I will shorten them to a appropriate length for my ukelele. To create the correct sound, I'll use a wooden box because I can easily sand it and change the shape of the box accordingly to the sound I'm trying to create. The rods will act as my ukelele's neck. Together,  I'll be able to  play my instrument like an acoustic guitar or ukelele.


Do we have time in class to practice the song or do we have to build and practice the instrument outside of class?