Parts of a Melodica
The main parts of a melodica are:
- Body: The body of the melodica is usually made of plastic or wood and it houses the instrument's reeds and keys.
- Keys: The keys of the melodica are made of plastic or metal and they are used to open and close holes in the instrument's body. Each key is attached to a specific reed.
- Reeds: The reeds of the melodica are made of thin strips of metal and they vibrate when air is blown through them. Each reed produces a different pitch of sound.
- Mouthpiece: The mouthpiece of the melodica is made of plastic or rubber and it is used to blow air into the instrument.
- Windway: The windway is a channel inside the melodica's body that directs air from the mouthpiece to the reeds.
- Air button: The air button is a small button on the side of the melodica that is used to release air from the instrument.
How a Melodica Works
When you blow air into the mouthpiece of the melodica, the air travels through the windway and causes the reeds to vibrate. The vibrations of the reeds produce sound waves, which are then amplified by the body of the instrument. The pitch of the sound depends on the length of the reed, with shorter reeds producing higher-pitched sounds and longer reeds producing lower-pitched sounds.
How to Make a Melodica
You can make a simple melodica at home using a few basic materials. Here are the steps:
- Gather your materials. You will need:
- A cardboard box
- A plastic drinking straw
- A rubber band
- A piece of thin plastic (such as a plastic bag or a food storage bag)
- A piece of cardboard or plywood
- A roll of duct tape
- Cut the cardboard box in half. Cut the box in half lengthwise so that you have two long, narrow pieces of cardboard.
- Attach the plastic drinking straw to one of the pieces of cardboard. Tape the straw to the cardboard about 1 inch from the bottom edge.
- Stretch the piece of plastic over the other piece of cardboard. Cut the plastic to size and stretch it over the cardboard so that it is taut. Tape the plastic in place around the edges.
- Attach the cardboard with the straw to the cardboard with the plastic. Glue or tape the two pieces of cardboard together so that the straw is between the two pieces of cardboard.
- Cut out a hole in the top of the cardboard box for the mouthpiece. Cut out a hole about 1 inch in diameter in the top of the cardboard box, directly over the straw.
- Cut out a hole in the bottom of the cardboard box for the air button. Cut out a hole about 1/4 inch in diameter in the bottom of the cardboard box, near the edge.
- Cover the holes with duct tape. Cover the mouthpiece hole and the air button hole with duct tape to make them airtight.
- Your melodica is now complete! You can decorate it however you like and start making music.
Playing the Melodica
To play the melodica, simply blow air into the mouthpiece and press the keys to open and close the holes in the instrument's body. The keys will correspond to the notes on a musical scale, so you can play songs and melodies just like you would on any other keyboard instrument.