Page 52 - Australian Wood Review №103 2019

PROJECT

Tuning

Tuning is critical to make a musical instrument as

opposed to making a fun project. The pitch of a key
can be raised by shortening it, and raised or lowered
by removing material underneath. This is why you
assemble the piece without the base – to allow access
to the bottom of the keys. 1

To lower the pitch remove wood from the outer end
of the key, to raise the pitch remove wood from the
tip. This is a very slow process. Either make a quick
adjustment in length and risk error, or spend an hour

removing wood from the base of the key aiming
for that sweet sound. Drilling a shallow hole with a
forstner bit was the method I used.

To raise the pitch by shortening the length of the key

I use a plunge router with a guide as it is a cleaner
cutting process to not have to drill away waste
underneath the key. For the higher keys however you
2
don’t want to make them too short, so drilling these

is sometimes preferable.

Pitch

I downloaded two tuning apps and tried to establish
pitch correctly averaging the sound to both apps.

However there was variance, for examples one tuner
would read an A while the other app was reading an F.
Then the original tuner would change again. Without
a microphone and computer link or whatever this is

out of my league.

Currently I tune them ‘to themselves’, that is
I establish my lowest key first with what is to me
a satisfying note. The following keys are then tuned

to be progressively higher.

If you decide to make some of these drums you may
find other ways to construct and tune them that suit

you better. As a small project they are fun way to
combine contrasting woods and the bonus is you end
up with a musical instrument as well.

Photos: Raf Nathan 3

52 Australian Wood Review