Beginner Projects

Here is the full list of beginner projects on the site!  If you are new to this site or the Arduino platform, have a scan over the Getting Started page.

These projects are a great place to start.  All should be using relatively straightforward build or programming techniques with full explanations in the text.

If you are looking for something a little more challenging, you could take a look at the intermediate or advanced level projects.

Please note: Everything on this site is provided “as is” with no explicit correctness or fitness for purpose implied or promised.  Barring typos and mistakes in the writing up, by fluke or otherwise, I think they worked for me – that is the most I can promise you.

Warning! Be particularly wary about plugging any of these things into your expensive computers or musical equipment! Do so at your own risk! And make sure you double check everything first… an old, second-hand or hand-me-down music keyboard or computer is best for experimenting.

Kevin

Microcontroller Tone Projects

  1. Arduino Tone Generator
    • Using a potentiometer to control the pitch of a tone.
  2. Arduino Note Generator
    • Using a potentiometer to control which note to play.
  3. Simple Arduino Music Keyboard
    • Building a small music keyboard out of switches (or “buttons”).
  4. Arduino MIDI Tone Module
    • Using a MIDI shield or receive circuit to play a tone in response to a MIDI note on message.
  5. Arduino Light Tone Generator
    • Generating a tone from a light dependent resistor as a simple “Theremin”.
  6. Arduino Tone Step Sequencer
    • A simple six or eight note step sequencer using the Arduino tone() function an potentiometers.
  7. Arduino MIDI Multi-Tone Module
    • Simple three-note polyphony from one Arduino using an upgraded Tone library.
  8. Analog Keypad Tone Controller
    • How to decode a “single pin” keypad matrix and use it to generate an Arduino tone.
  9. Arduino “Make Your Uno” Synth
    • An introduction (with follow-up projects) to the Arduino “Make Your Uno” kit and the Synth Shield included.

MIDI Control and Processing Projects

  1. Arduino Simple MIDI Controller
    • Using a potentiometer to control a MIDI device and provide a simple MIDI send (or out) circuit.
  2. MIDI Patch Button
    • A button, that when pressed, will automatically select a certain patch on your keyboard via MIDI.
  3. Arduino MIDI Delay
    • Creating a delay effect with a MIDI shield.
  4. Arduino MIDI Filter – Arduino MIDI Filter – Revisited
    • Using an Arduino as a simple MIDI channel filter.
  5. Arduino MIDI Button Controller
    • A slightly more sophisticated program change controller, consisting of two buttons and an LED display.
  6. Pi Pico MIDI Matrix Decode
    • Using a Raspberry Pi Pico as a music keyboard MIDI controller.
  7. Arduino USB MIDI Merge
    • Using an Arduino Uno, USB Host Shield and MIDI shield for a USB and serial MIDI to serial MIDI merger.
  8. Arduino MIDI Rotary Encoder Controller – Part 3
    • A MIDI Program Changer using a rotary encoder and a seven segment display module.  Part 3 replaces the seven segment display with a 12-LED ring of NeoPixels.
  9. Arduino MIDI Channelizer
    • How to use an Arduino to change the MIDI channel of notes “on the fly”.
  10. Arduino Serial MIDI Program and Control Messenger
    • How to send or receive MIDI Program and Control messages via the hardware or software serial ports on an Arduino.
  11. CircuitPython USB to Serial MIDI Router
    • How to use a CircuitPython device to convert USB MIDI to serial MIDI.
  12. Pi Pico MIDI Button Controller and Arduino MIDI Button Bank Select
    • Using buttons and a Raspberry Pi Pico or an Arduino Pro Micro as a MIDI voice bank selector for serial or USB MIDI.
  13. Arduino MIDI Master Volume Control
    • Using and Arduino and a potentiometer for a MIDI Master Volume Control.
  14. Simple MIDI Transpose
    • Using an Arduino Uno and a MIDI interface as a MIDI transpose function.

Sequencer Projects

  1. Arduino MIDI Step Sequencer
    • A simple MIDI step sequencer controlled by potentiometers.

Touch Music Projects

  1. Instant Touch Music
    • Starting to explore the touch sensitivity support of the the Adafruit Circuit Playground Express and the Bare Conductive Touch Board.
  2. Arduino MPR121 Touch Piano
    • Using a variety of off-the-shelf shields to provide capacitive sensors to an Arduino Uno for a touch piano.
  3. Micro:bit Touch Piano
    • Using a BBC Micro:bit with the MakeCode editor and a touch piano shield.
  4. Raspberry Pi Pico Capacitive Touch
    • How to create touchpads for MIDI with a Raspberry Pi Pico and CircuitPython.

Percussion Projects

  1. Arduino Relay Bolero
    • Using the click from a relay as a percussion instrument and playing a pattern.

MIDI Interface Projects

  1. Simple USB-MIDI to MIDI
    • Using a USB Host Shield, MIDI Shield and Arduino UNO as a USBMIDI to MIDI converter.
  2. Ready-Made MIDI Modules
    • Details of a range of “off-the-shelf” MIDI modules to use with an Arduino or similar board.
  3. MIDI In for 3.3V Microcontrollers
    • Building a 3.3V friendly DIY MIDI interface for the Raspberry Pi Pico and the Adafruit Circuit Playground Express.
  4. USB-MIDI to MIDI Revisited
    • Using an Adafruit Trinket M0 as a USB-MIDI to Serial MIDI converter.
  5. PC USB-MIDI to MIDI Revisited
    • Using a Pro Micro (ATmega32U4) as a USB to MIDI interface.

MIDI Monitoring Projects

  1. Simple MIDI Monitor
    • Building a stand-alone MIDI receive (in) circuit or using a MIDI shield and flashing the on-board LED of an Arduino whenever a note on message is received.
  2. Arduino MIDI Note Monitor
    • Lighting up LEDs in response to MIDI note on messages.
  3. Arduino MIDI Channel Monitor
    • Using a simple LED board and an Arduino Nano as a MIDI channel indicator.
  4. OLED MIDI Display
    • Showing how to use a cheap OLED monochrome display to show MIDI notes being played.
  5. Pico Unicorn MIDI Visualiser
    • Using a Raspberry Pi Pico and a Pimoroni Unicorn Pack as a MIDI note visualiser.

Synthesizer Module Projects

  1. Arduino MP3 Piano
    • Using an “off the shelf” MP3 player shield and some buttons to create an MP3-playing, five-note piano.
  2. Arduino MIDI VS1053 Synth – Part 2
    • This uses the above MP3 player shield in real-time MIDI mode to create a simple Arduino based general MIDI synthesizer.
  3. Arduino USB MIDI VS1053 Synth
    • Adding a potentiometer to the VS1053 synth to choose the voice to use and connecting up a USB MIDI interface.
  4. Adafruit Feather MIDI and Music
    • Using the Adafruit Feather MIDI and Music Maker Wings for a simple MIDI synth.
  5. Adafruit Feather MIDI, Music and LEDs
    • Returning to the Adafruit Feather to add LEDs to my MIDI Music Maker Wings.
  6. Arduino VS1053 General MIDI Synth
    • This is a re-run of the earlier VS1053 project making it clear how to configure the code for full General MIDI compatibility.
  7. XIAO ESP32-C3 MIDI Synthesizer – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4 – Part 5 – Part 6
    • A Look at the XIAO MIDI Synthesizer module and its use.
  8. Other SAM2695 Synths
    • Some other off-the-shelf SAM2695 based MIDI synth modules for use with microcontrollers.

Digital Synthesis Projects

  1. AD9833 Signal Generator – Part 2
    • This project uses a cheap, off-the-shelf signal generator chip as a simple waveform generator for some basic digital synthesis.
  2. AD9833 MIDI Signal Generator
    • Controlling the AD9833 signal generator via MIDI.
  3. Auduino Granular Synthesis
    • Installing and running the Auduino Granular Synthesis code and controlling it with five potentiometers.
  4. Auduino Light Controller
    • Adding light dependent resistors to an Auduino synth.

Mozzi Synthesis Projects

  1. Arduino Multi-pot Mozzi FM Synthesis – Revisited
    • A sketch to use with the official Arduino Synth Shield.

Misc Hardware Projects

  1. Single Pin MIDI Channel Selector
    • Using four switches connected to an analog input as a MIDI channel selector.

Single Board Computers

There is nothing in this category yet.