This tutorial will give you step-by-step instructions to make your own musical glove that will produce a different note for each finger pushed.

Project Steps

Start by gathering all materials listed under Tools & Parts. We will begin by getting one button to produce noise!

Assemble breadboard and Arduino for one button using the circuit diagram to the left.

Although not shown in the diagram, instead of attaching the button directly to the board, connect it to one end of an extender cable. Then attach the other end of the cable to the board. This way you can put the button in the glove later. (See picture.)

Insert the code from Musical Glove Code 1-1 zip file into the Arduino IDE program and click the Upload button. At this point, if you push the button, the speaker should emit a tone.

Save your work.

Set up the breadboard for the rest of the buttons. The code supports up to five buttons. If you want to add more, follow the instructions on the subsequent line, if not, then move onto the next page.

Set up another button on the breadboard exactly as the others were set up, only connect this one to analog pin 6. (Any additional buttons will connect to analog pin 7, then 8, etc. The same concept should also be applied to all subsequent steps.) Add the following code to your current code.

int sensorsix = analogRead(A5); This sets the sensor to its corresponding analog pin. Label each additional sensor with a new name and analogRead pin; e.g., the code for sensor seven would be sensorseven = analogRead(A6);.

Serial.println(sensorsix); int thisPitch6 = map(sensorsix, 0, 1023, 400, 200); This sets the sensor to a defined pitch. To change the pitch, change the last value after the map function (currently 200). The higher the number, the higher the pitch, and vice versa.

if (sensorsix > threshold) { tone(9, thisPitch6, 20); } If the reading from the sensor is greater than the threshold value (as when the button is pushed), then the speaker will emit a tone.

If all this is done correctly, the speaker should emit a tone for every button that is pushed. If not, go back to steps 1-3 and double-check the code and your physical setup.

If it is working, assemble the glove!

Cut holes into the fingers of the glove, or wherever you want a button to go.

Insert buttons and secure with tape, glue or thread.

Secure the extender cables with tape or glue.

Enjoy your new musical instrument!

If you want to take it a step further and have the glove emit noises other than simple tones, then I’d recommend buying an Adafruit Wave Shield for Arduino board- v1.1. This board will allow you to record and upload different noises to your glove!

You can stack the shield directly on top of the Arduino, but what I did was to connect the needed pins by using extender cables. It’s messy, but it’s quick and easy. (See pictures to the left to see just how messy it gets! You’ve been warned.)

For more information, click the following links: OVERVIEW, BUY, CODE, FAQ