musical instruments from junk: make a poptar with Nick Penny

[sivertehbomb]

Thank you so much, I used this as my project when we were learning about sound waves in Physics.

[SKAT3RB0Y78]

can i use this for my science project

[3xoticj3rk]

@SKAT3RB0Y78 youth middle?

[SKAT3RB0Y78]

@3xoticj3rk yea my project is over and yea im in middle skool i got a 83 on the project i just needed right to the instrument sence u made it.

[3xoticj3rk]

@SKAT3RB0Y78 you go to youth middle?

[ragulankana05]

how do u drill da hole

[abracadabra449]

I just made one thanks nick

And thanks for helping me make an utterly butterly eukele at sjcs!

[superdupermarioshow]

you could play a poptar with youre shoe

[superdupermarioshow]

ive made one of those when nick came to my school

[nickpenny]

Do you mean harder or softer? Plucking hard means putting a lot of force and energy into the pluck. The opposite is to p[luck gently....

[Maddancer9]

what do u mean by shorter and longer? beasue my science news is due soon,.... thanks!!

[nickpenny]

pluck it harder or softer, or use different materials to pluck it with ie make a plectrum out of plastic or soft cardboard. Also, you could use a microphone to make it louder!

[nickpenny]

Yes,any string or fishing line will do. Nick

[Maddancer9]

will it still work if you use Craftlace, its a plastic string

[Maddancer9]

Thanks im doing this for science now!!

[superdupermarioshow]

@Maddancer9 you could do it for vibrations

[bongardztisoy]

THNKX

[KieraJadeJackson01]

Hey nick i just wanted to say when you went to mundford primary school you showed us how to . It was great fun thank you x Um it kiera the one that drawed a harp then i impproved thank you so much i had a great day thank you nick x

[nickpenny]

No problem - just try it and see.

Nick

[randomomoXP]

could i cut the hole at the top? or does it have to be at the bottom?

[ThePaigebooth]

This is great!

Thanks so much!

[SushiSwine0811]

I did see the part, but it's so fast and hard to follow. Thanks anyways!

[nickpenny]

First of all, have you tightened the string by twisting the dowel? I explain how to make different sounds and a simple three note melody between 5 and 6 minutes into the video. Keep it simple, and don't expect too much from the instrument. As long as you're making different sounds and rhythms and keep smiling and relaxed your class and teacher are bound to be impressed!

Nick

[SushiSwine0811]

I made the instrument today, but I have trouble playing an actual piece of music on it. I have to present that to my class on this Friday! Please help

[nickpenny]

The stretched string vibrates when you pluck it. This causes the bottle (soundbox) to vibrate, which leads to the air vibrating so you can hear the sound.

Stretch the string tighter, by turning the dowel at the top, and the

pitch becomes higher. Turn it in the other direction to make the pitch lower.

Hope this helps you to get going - make sure you think some more about it and add some stuff of your own!

Nick

[Maddancer9]

@nickpenny Thanks!!

[Mothy1030]

Hey nick penny, do you mind telling me the physics behind the poptar? cause i made it for my project and my teacher would like me to write a report to explain how the instrument works. Thank you so much!!

[nickpenny]

Have you twisted the dowel round and round like a propellor? That's what actually tightens the string. Have you twisted it enough? Have you stuck down the spare string at the other end to the bottle?

Nick

[PoolShark403]

this works really well; I found cutting a slight indent in the dowel so it can fit nicely on the bottle's top and then a second indent for the string to fit in really makes the sound better. It also keeps the string in place and makes sure the results aren't contaminated from touching the side of the bottle by accident.

[gilbohadana]

thank alot a very unic instrument thanks for sharing

[sdthird10]

your very smart and i really am interested in your inventions!

[TheRachelLou]

u came to my school u r brill

[xbox360kid8]

thanks for coming to my school i mean how lucky are we plz do a video about your bike guitar thing

[ILoveThomasTank2]

can i make 1 for my school progect

[Aadd24]

You came to our school today lol

(30th May 09)

I cant belive it really ....

i saw a year fives bottle the square was dodgy but the rest was cool lol

good job! Carry on (dont forget to visit us again!)

[mikpun]

This is a great instrument...I am going to use it for my grade 4 school project.

thanks Kaylee

[nickpenny]

thanks for the comments from everyone at Elsworth school

[Rewind1299]

Thanks for coming to Newark Hill Your music is well cool and I did wot u said and rated this 5star

[sdthird10]

are you famous if you talk to me then i can't believe it! your inventions are excellent! i just love them!

[blahdiblahdi1]

Thank you!

It works. :D I had to make an instrument for my Music assignment.

[TheBigMuscle99]

This guy came 2 our school!! Were well lucky man!!!

[williami1234]

wow, great invention! i have to do a school music assignment, where i have to a musical instrument and the poptar is a great idea. thank u very much! i will let u know what the results are when i get it back from my teacher.

[xredninja]

my music teacher in 9th grade told us to make an instrument using simple objects and this got me an A thanks a lot

[surferosu]

I can't seem to find polyproplene string . Do you think fishing wire would work? My daughter was going to make this for a school project. Thanks much - SD

[nickpenny]

fishing line would work fine, but you'll need to tie it through a button or bead at the bottom of the bottle.

[steveisawoman]

Wow i've always wanted one of these!

Thanks so much. Great guy.

xx

[puter2wide]

This is great, I might make one with my daughter when she is older..I believe you played at my pagan wedding in the forest a few years ago and wonder if you still remember the dragonfly swarm in the sun?

[nickpenny]

I remember it well - a lovely day in Bourne woods. Congratulations on the daughter. In my book there are instruments to make with very young children too. You might also enjoy the nightingale song on one of my other youtube videos.

[nickpenny]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[tank563]

im from overdale leicester you were brill

[graehme]

u kinda look like johnny cash

[gsleader509]

I have been looking for a stringed instrument to make with a large group of girl scouts. This looks perfect. Cheap to make, good sound, looks better than paper towel tubes, shoeboxes and rubberbands.

[nickpenny]

They'll love them. But before making poptars with a large group I'd advise: making at least one yourself to test the idea out; pre-preparing the bottles by drilling and slitting if you can; and getting extra adults to help with tying knots.Let me know how you got on!

[gsleader509]

I made my sample and I love it! One slight adaptation - I am going to have the girls put a pony bead on the string on the bottom of the bottle. I think it will make knotting a little easier and they won't have to tape it to keep the knot from going through the hole. My event is the end of January. I am collecting, slitting and drilling the bottles. I will let you know how it goes.

[nickpenny]

Well done, and that's a good adaptation. But you'll probably still need the tape. It's there to stop the "bead" end of the string turning, so that the string will twist and tighten when you turn the stick.If both ends can turn it'll never tighten, or if it does it may suddenly untwist.

[blairfotball99]

your doing a good thing 4 children.

[rian4812]

whoa!

thanks!

that was cool!

[nickpenny]

Thanks for the comment. They certainly do!

[swbuch]

Kids would enjoy makeing and playing these. Thanks for the upload.