The Science of Guitars
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- 7/16/2011 |
- 10:00 am
There aren't many video games more universally popular than Guitar Hero, and it's easy to see why. At some point in their life everyone dreams of being a rock star, right? So there's a natural appeal in living out that fantasy by rocking to your favorite songs, one virtual power chord at a time.
Well, one educator took that appeal a step further. Follow this link to watch a short video about the class project that University of Virginia professor Gavin Garner came up with -- a build-your-own-guitar adventure that includes lessons on mechanical, electrical, and software engineering.
It's clear that some of the students had fun with all of the options laid out for them -- one creative soul even designed the guitar in the shape of the Batman logo -- but there's also some serious learning going on, too. What starts out as a wood-shop project with lumber, magnets, and wire coils builds up to a full-on lesson in the science of sound. Students learn not only about the gritty details of music -- what is pitch, how does an electric guitar amplify its sound, etc. -- but they get to experience it directly, further driving home the lesson.
That's the kind of hands-on learning any wannabe rock star can appreciate.
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