Tone Generating Circuits

If you want to make some sound from your speakers but you don't have ipod or any other mp3 source you've come to the right place. The circuits given in this instructable will make some sound from your speaker. All of the circuits given in this instructable are based on a 555 timer/oscillator ic. This instructable has only 5 circuits but there are many other circuits.

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First you should start with your 555 ic. In order to make the circuits in this instructable you will need to know a about the 555 ic. For this you need you only need to know about the pinout. The pinout is given in this step.

The first circuit is a very simple one. It requires very less things and is very inexpensive. It is called screamer. The things that you need to make this circuit are

555 ic
1 k resistor
10 uf capacitor
0.1 uf ceramic capacitor (104)
8 ohms speaker
6 to 9v power source

It can be powered by a power source of 6 to 9 volt. It will generate a very loud screaming tone. The schematic is given in this step.

The second circuit is a little complex and requires a few more items than the first circuit. The things that you need to make this circuit are

555 ic
Bc 557 transistor
100 k resistor
33 k resistor
10 uf electrolyte capacitor-2
100 if electrolyte capacitor
0.01 uf ceramic capacitor (103)-2
8 ohm speaker
6 to 9v power source

It can also pe powered by 6 to 9 volts. It will generate a tone similar to the sound of the machine gun. The schematic is given in this step.

The third circuit is also a little complex. It can also be powered by 6 to 9 volts. It will generate a tone similar to the sound of a police siren and thus, I call it the police siren. The things that you need to make this project are

555 ic-2
1 k resistor
68 k resistor
10 k resistor-3
10 uf electrolyte capacitor-2
0.1 uf ceramic capacitor-2
8 ohms speaker
6 to 9v power supply


The two 555 ic are use to produce an up-down wailing siren. The first 555 is wired as a low frequency oscillator to control the voltage controlling pin 5 of the second 555 ic. The voltage shift on pin 5 causes the frequency of the second oscillator to rise and fall. The schematic is given in this step.

The fourth circuit is a very good one. It isn't so hard and it is very good. It is called toy organ. The things you will need to make the toy organ are

555 ic
10 uf electrolyte capacitor
0.1 uf ceramic capacitor
1 k resistor-6
10 k potentiometer (variable resistor)
Small momentary contact switches-6

The toy organ is like a piano. This circuit produces a tone according to the button being pressed. Only 1 button can be pressed at a time. You can change the 1 k resistor to produce a more accurate scale. The schematic is given in this step.

The fifth and the last circuit is also very good. It is a little complex but I'm sure that you will be able to make it. It is called wailing siren.  To make it you will need are

555 timer
Bc 557 transistor
Bc 547 transistor
39 ohm resistor
220 k resistor
22 k resistor
100 k resistor
33 k resistor
1 k resistor
100 uf electrolyte capacitor
0.01 uf ceramic capacitor(103)-2
8 ohms speaker
6 to 9v power source


It requires two transistors. By pressing the button the wailing sound increases. Releasing the button decreases the wailing. There is a very good feature in it i.e. the circuit automatically turns off after about 30 seconds.



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