Home
References
Language References

tone()

Description

Generates a square wave of the specified frequency (and 50% duty cycle) on a pin. A duration can be specified, otherwise the wave continues until a call to noTone(). The pin can be connected to a piezo buzzer or other speaker to play tones.

Only one tone can be generated at a time. If a tone is already playing on a different pin, the call to tone() will have no effect. If the tone is playing on the same pin, the call will set its frequency.

Use of the tone() function will interfere with PWM output on pins 3 and 11 (on boards other than the Mega).

It is not possible to generate tones lower than 31Hz. For technical details, see Brett Hagman's notes.

Syntax

tone(pin, frequency); tone(pin, frequency, duration);

Parameter Values

  • pin: the Arduino pin on which to generate the tone.
  • frequency: the frequency of the tone in hertz. Allowed data types: unsigned int.
  • duration: the duration of the tone in milliseconds (optional). Allowed data types: unsigned long.

Return Values

  • Nothing

Example

Let's to play "Jingle Bells" song with Arduino.

Hardware Required

1×Arduino UNO or Genuino UNO
1×3-24V Active Piezo Buzzer
1×Active Piezo Buzzer Module
1×Passive Piezo Buzzer Module
1×Breadboard
1×Jumper Wires
1×(Recommended) Screw Terminal Block Shield for Arduino Uno
1×(Recommended) Breadboard Shield For Arduino Uno
1×(Recommended) Enclosure For Arduino Uno
Please note: These are Amazon affiliate links. If you buy the components through these links, We will get a commission at no extra cost to you. We appreciate it.

Wiring Diagram

Arduino Piezo Buzzer Wiring Diagram

This image is created using Fritzing. Click to enlarge image

Arduino Code

/* * Created by ArduinoGetStarted.com * * This example code is in the public domain * * Tutorial page: https://arduinogetstarted.com/reference/tone */ #include "pitches.h" #define BUZZER_PIN 8 // The Arduino pin connected to the buzzer // notes in the melody: int melody[] = { NOTE_E5, NOTE_E5, NOTE_E5, NOTE_E5, NOTE_E5, NOTE_E5, NOTE_E5, NOTE_G5, NOTE_C5, NOTE_D5, NOTE_E5, NOTE_F5, NOTE_F5, NOTE_F5, NOTE_F5, NOTE_F5, NOTE_E5, NOTE_E5, NOTE_E5, NOTE_E5, NOTE_E5, NOTE_D5, NOTE_D5, NOTE_E5, NOTE_D5, NOTE_G5 }; // note durations: 4 = quarter note, 8 = eighth note, etc, also called tempo: int noteDurations[] = { 8, 8, 4, 8, 8, 4, 8, 8, 8, 8, 2, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 16, 16, 8, 8, 8, 8, 4, 4 }; void setup() { // iterate over the notes of the melody: int size = sizeof(noteDurations) / sizeof(int); for (int thisNote = 0; thisNote < size; thisNote++) { // to calculate the note duration, take one second divided by the note type. //e.g. quarter note = 1000 / 4, eighth note = 1000/8, etc. int noteDuration = 1000 / noteDurations[thisNote]; tone(BUZZER_PIN, melody[thisNote], noteDuration); // to distinguish the notes, set a minimum time between them. // the note's duration + 30% seems to work well: int pauseBetweenNotes = noteDuration * 1.30; delay(pauseBetweenNotes); // stop the tone playing: noTone(BUZZER_PIN); } } void loop() { // no need to repeat the melody. }

For more detailed instruction, see Arduino - Piezo Buzzer

※ NOTES AND WARNINGS:

If you want to play different pitches on multiple pins, you need to call noTone() on one pin before calling tone() on the next pin.

See Also

※ ARDUINO BUY RECOMMENDATION

Arduino UNO R3
Arduino Starter Kit

※ OUR MESSAGES

DISCLOSURE
ArduinoGetStarted.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Amazon.it, Amazon.fr, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.ca, Amazon.de, Amazon.es, Amazon.nl, Amazon.pl and Amazon.se
The Arduino Reference text is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License. The content is modified based on Official Arduino References by: adding more example codes and output, adding more notes and warning, rewriting some parts, and re-formating
Email: ArduinoGetStarted@gmail.com