Using a Piezo Buzzer — SIK Circuit 11
Play a song with a piezo buzzer! Learn about the tone() function, musical frequencies, arrays for storing melodies, and how to create your own tunes.
Instructions
Parts & Introduction
Parts & Introduction
A piezo buzzer converts electrical signals into sound. Using Arduino's built-in tone() function, you can play specific musical frequencies. This sketch plays a simple melody using character arrays for notes and integer arrays for timing.
Parts Needed
- 1x Arduino Uno + USB cable
- 1x Breadboard
- 1x Piezo Buzzer
- 3x Jumper Wires
Note Frequency Reference
| Note | Freq |
|---|---|
| c | 262 Hz |
| d | 294 Hz |
| e | 330 Hz |
| f | 349 Hz |
| g | 392 Hz |
| a | 440 Hz |
| b | 494 Hz |
| C | 523 Hz |
Materials for this step:
- •SparkFun Inventors Kit - V3.2 - 1 kit
- •Arduino Uno R3 - 1 piece
- •Breadboard - 1 piece
- •Piezo Buzzer - 1 piece
- •Jumper Wires - 2 piecess
Tools needed:
- •Computer with Arduino IDE
Hardware Hookup
Hardware Hookup
Wiring Instructions
- Place the piezo buzzer in the breadboard. It has two pins — one marked with "+".
- Connect the positive pin (+) to Arduino Digital Pin 9 (PWM).
- Connect the negative pin to GND.
Tip: If the buzzer doesn't fit easily, try rotating it slightly to align with diagonal breadboard holes.
Materials for this step:
- •Piezo Buzzer - 1 piece
- •Breadboard - 1 piece
- •Jumper Wires - 2 piecess
Arduino Code
Arduino Code
Open the Arduino IDE and upload the following sketch to your Arduino board.
/*
SparkFun Inventor's Kit
Example sketch 11 — BUZZER
Use the buzzer to play a song!
Hardware connections:
Buzzer positive pin (+) to digital pin 9 (PWM)
Buzzer negative pin to GND
This code is completely free for any use.
*/
const int buzzerPin = 9;
const int songLength = 18;
char notes[] = "cdfda ag cdfdg gf "; // space = rest
int beats[] = {1,1,1,1,1,1,4,4,2,1,1,1,1,1,1,4,4,2};
int tempo = 113;
void setup()
{
pinMode(buzzerPin, OUTPUT);
}
void loop()
{
int i, duration;
for (i = 0; i < songLength; i++)
{
duration = beats[i] * tempo;
if (notes[i] == ' ')
{
delay(duration);
}
else
{
tone(buzzerPin, frequency(notes[i]), duration);
delay(duration);
}
delay(tempo/10);
}
while(true){} // Play once, then stop. Remove this line to loop.
}
int frequency(char note)
{
int i;
const int numNotes = 8;
char names[] = { 'c', 'd', 'e', 'f', 'g', 'a', 'b', 'C' };
int frequencies[] = {262, 294, 330, 349, 392, 440, 494, 523};
for (i = 0; i < numNotes; i++)
{
if (names[i] == note)
{
return(frequencies[i]);
}
}
return(0);
}Materials for this step:
- •Arduino Uno R3 - 1 piece
Tools needed:
- •Computer with Arduino IDE
Test & Experiment
Test & Experiment
What You Should See
You won't see anything — but you'll hear a melody playing from the buzzer! The song plays once and stops.
Troubleshooting
- No sound: The buzzer pins are easy to misplace on the breadboard. Double-check placement and make sure both pins have good contact.
- Want it to stop: Pull the buzzer out while working on other things, plug it back in to test.
Experiments to Try
- Remove the
while(true){}line to make the song loop continuously. - Write your own melody by changing the
notes[]andbeats[]arrays. - Add more notes by expanding the
frequency()function with sharps and flats. - Use a button (from Circuit 5) to trigger the melody on demand.
Materials
- •SparkFun Inventor's Kit - V3.2 - 1 kitNOK 999.201
- •Arduino Uno R3 - 1 piecePlaceholder13
- •Breadboard - 1 piecePlaceholder12
- •Piezo Buzzer - 1 piece12
- •Jumper Wires - 3 piecessNOK 39.2012
Tools Required
- Computer with Arduino IDE13
CC0 Public Domain
This blueprint is released under CC0. You are free to copy, modify, distribute, and use this work for any purpose, without asking permission.
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