Do-Re-Mi with Straws

Introduction

Have you ever wondered how a musical instrument produces the beautiful sounds that it does? To make a certain note, the instrument has to make a certain sound wave. Depending on the instrument, the sound wave that is made can be affected by changing the length of part of the instrument, such as the strings in a piano or on a guitar, or a trombone’s air column. In this science activity, you will make your own musical instruments using drinking straws and explore how changing the length of the straws changes the notes that they produce.

Credits

Materials

• Plastic or paper drinking straws (at least 2)
• Scissors
• Optional: Piano, electronic keyboard, or other musical instrument that can produce a scale of notes