Guitar Hero Strap Attachment for Guitar Players

The device has two functions, the first is to act as a light show on the guitar strap for crowd appeal while playing the guitar. The animation of the LED is determined by a potentiometer, giving the device more functionality in a smaller space than a series of buttons. The second function is to light the LED strip blue for ten seconds when the guitar is shaken. This idea was inspired by the videogame Guitar Hero, which inspired me to learn the guitar as a kid.

1. 1 Adafruit Bluefruit
2. 1 Adafruit RGB LED Strip
3. 1 Battery Pack
4. 1 Potentiometer
5. Laser cutter
6. 1/4 inch sheet of birch
7. Hot glue gun
8. 3 Rubber bands

Go to https://en.makercase.com/#/basicbox and create a box. My build has inside dimensions of 4, 2.5, and 3, for width, height, and depth. I also set my meterial thickness to 1/4 in, and used finger joints. In Adobe Illustrator I added some decorative slits to the box which also serve the functional purpose of allowing me to see if any error lights flash on the Bluefruit or if the green "on" light is actually on. I also added two 2.3in by 0.8in slots in the box so the guitar strap can be threaded through them. Two more important features are holes for the LED strip and potentiometer cables, each being 0.4in by 0.4in. Hot glue everything together but the top, and you're good to go. My file is attached.

The attached code uses Adafruit's LED animation library for the effects. It interacts with the potentiometer to switch to the desired animation. All you have to do is turn the dial and choose the animation that fits the song you're playing the best. The code also has a starpower function that activates blue lights across the LEDs for ten seconds once the accelerometer in the Bluefruit detects a shake.

The box is a tight squeeze, which was intentional as I wanted it to be as small as possible to go unnoticed by both the musician and the audience when the device is in use. Thread each cable through the small holes and connect the black wires to ground, the LED's red wire to VOUT, the potentiometer's red wire to 3.3v, the LED's white wire to A1, and the potentiometer's white wire to A3. Also make sure that the battery pack is connected. Once it's ready to be closed up, secure it shut with two rubber bands. It's important to have the potentiometer sticking out then glued down. Pull the LED strip across the strap and secure the end with another rubber band.

Find the animation that fits your song the best and don't forget to shake the guitar for starpower. Bring it to a gig or have it around at home. The design allows you to switch across guitars, use a bass, or any other instrument that uses a strap.