Kazoo Design

Kazoo Design
Where and how to put a membrane



3/13/2012
Multiple Membranes

Well, I got the basic Kazoo body design page started.  Now I can start on some of the stuff I have learned from some experiments about multiple membranes. 

So far, there are two basic configurations; 

Multiple membranes in the same resonating chamber and More than one resonating chamber

Multiple membranes in one resonating chamber

membranes all the same size  & material                                          This mostly seems to increase the amount of sound, due to the increased membrane area.   This is useful because there is a limit to how big you can make one membrane, depending on the size and shape of the body and the type of material you are using. Covering one membrane with your hand will prevent it from vibrating and allows you to here the sounds separately. membranes of different sizes, &/or materials, etc.  In this case, in addition to the louder sound, different harmonics may be added which affect the tone. Covering one membrane with your hand will prevent it from vibrating and allows you to here the sounds separately.

More than one resonating chamber

If the chambers are the same size, shape, etc.,  and the membranes are the same  I am not sure it adds anything but louder sound. If the membranes are different sizes &/or types of material In this case, in addition to the louder sound, different harmonics are added which affect the tone, and the sound is different in each chamber. Covering one membrane with your hand will prevent it from vibrating and allows you to here the sounds separately. If the chambers are the different size, shape, etc.,  and the membranes are the same In this case, in addition to the louder sound, different harmonics are added which affect the tone, and the sound is different in each chamber. Covering one membrane with your hand will prevent it from vibrating and allows you to here the sounds separately. If the membranes are different sizes &/or types of material In this case, in addition to the louder sound, different harmonics are added which affect the tone, and the sound is different in each chamber. Covering one membrane with your hand will prevent it from vibrating and allows you to here the sounds separately.

In the case of  more than one resonating chamber, it is like having separate kazoos in your mouth and playing simultaneously, like with this pair of kazoos http://kazoologist.org/Pictures01.html

I am still working on this.  If you have any corrections, additions or questions please contact me kazoologist@kazoologist.org

  

Return Home