Arduino project · Sound and music · Beginner
Knob Tone Generator
Turn the knob to change the pitch from 100 to 3000 Hz.
What you will learn
- How frequency sets pitch
- How to map a knob to a range
- How tone() makes a sound
How it works
The map step turns the knob position into a frequency, and the buzzer plays it.
Try this next
- Add an LCD with the frequency.
- Add a button to mute.
- Compare 440 Hz with the A note.
The simulator program and explanation on this page are original. The idea follows a classic Arduino project that students have built for years.
Parts: sensors and actuators (tap to show or hide)
Try the inputs (virtual sensors)
Pins (you can change them)
| Part | Arduino pin (change it here) | How to wire it |
|---|
Every wire, one by one
Red rail = 5 V from the Arduino 5V pin. Black rail = GND. The coloured wires carry signals. Match the wire colours on the drawing to this list.
| # | Colour | From (part and leg) | To |
|---|
Steps run from top to bottom, then start again. While the simulation runs, the active step is highlighted in green.
Quantities come from the parts you added. The store links open a search for that item on Robu.in, Amazon.in and ThinkRobotics, so you always see what is in stock today. Check the model, voltage and price before you order.
| # | Item | Qty | Search term | Buy / compare |
|---|
The PDF has the circuit sketch, pin table, every wire, sequence, full code, the parts list with store links, do’s and don’ts for each part, and the safety notes. The project file lets you come back and keep editing.
In the real world
A speaker and a piano
The speaker plays the note your program picks. The piano keys light up so you can see which note it is, and the rings show the sound waves.
Tip: use the gold tab at the bottom of the circuit drawing to pull the real-world view up over the Arduino board. Your parts stay visible above it, so you can press a button and watch the real scene react.
- Passive buzzer = the speaker and its note
- Input = what changes the pitch