Arduino - Ultrasonic Sensor - Piezo Buzzer
We are going to learn how to:
- If the object is close to ultrasonic sensor, make sound
- If the object is far from ultrasonic sensor, stop making sound
- If the object is close to ultrasonic sensor, make melody of song
Hardware Required
1 | × | Arduino UNO or Genuino UNO | |
1 | × | USB 2.0 cable type A/B | |
1 | × | Ultrasonic Sensor | |
1 | × | Piezo Buzzer | |
1 | × | Jumper Wires | |
1 | × | (Optional) 9V Power Adapter for Arduino | |
1 | × | (Optional) Screw Terminal Block Shield for Arduino |
One of the following breadboard:
1 | × | Full-sized 830-Point Breadboard | |
1 | × | Half-sized 400-point Breadboard | |
1 | × | Mini-sized 170-point Breadboard | |
1 | × | All-sized Breadboard Kit |
Please note: These are affiliate links. If you buy the components through these links, We may get a commission at no extra cost to you. We appreciate it.
About Piezo Buzzer and Ultrasonic Sensor
If you do not know about piezo buzzer and ultrasonic sensor (pinout, how it works, how to program ...), learn about them in the following tutorials:
Wiring Diagram

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Arduino Code - Simple Sound
/*
* Created by ArduinoGetStarted.com
*
* This example code is in the public domain
*
* Tutorial page: https://arduinogetstarted.com/tutorials/arduino-ultrasonic-sensor-piezo-buzzer
*/
// constants won't change
const int TRIG_PIN = 6; // Arduino pin connected to Ultrasonic Sensor's TRIG pin
const int ECHO_PIN = 7; // Arduino pin connected to Ultrasonic Sensor's ECHO pin
const int BUZZER_PIN = 3; // Arduino pin connected to Piezo Buzzer's pin
const int DISTANCE_THRESHOLD = 50; // centimeters
// variables will change:
float duration_us, distance_cm;
void setup() {
Serial.begin (9600); // initialize serial port
pinMode(TRIG_PIN, OUTPUT); // set arduino pin to output mode
pinMode(ECHO_PIN, INPUT); // set arduino pin to input mode
pinMode(BUZZER_PIN, OUTPUT); // set arduino pin to output mode
}
void loop() {
// generate 10-microsecond pulse to TRIG pin
digitalWrite(TRIG_PIN, HIGH);
delayMicroseconds(10);
digitalWrite(TRIG_PIN, LOW);
// measure duration of pulse from ECHO pin
duration_us = pulseIn(ECHO_PIN, HIGH);
// calculate the distance
distance_cm = 0.017 * duration_us;
if(distance_cm < DISTANCE_THRESHOLD)
digitalWrite(BUZZER_PIN, HIGH); // turn on Piezo Buzzer
else
digitalWrite(BUZZER_PIN, LOW); // turn off Piezo Buzzer
// print the value to Serial Monitor
Serial.print("distance: ");
Serial.print(distance_cm);
Serial.println(" cm");
delay(500);
}
Quick Steps
- Connect Arduino to PC via USB cable
- Open Arduino IDE, select the right board and port
- Copy the above code and open with Arduino IDE
- Click Upload button on Arduino IDE to upload code to Arduino
- Move your hand in front of sensor
- Listen to piezo buzzer's sound
Code Explanation
Read the line-by-line explanation in comment lines of source code!
Arduino Code - Melody
/*
* Created by ArduinoGetStarted.com
*
* This example code is in the public domain
*
* Tutorial page: https://arduinogetstarted.com/tutorials/arduino-ultrasonic-sensor-piezo-buzzer
*/
#include "pitches.h"
// constants won't change
const int TRIG_PIN = 6; // Arduino pin connected to Ultrasonic Sensor's TRIG pin
const int ECHO_PIN = 7; // Arduino pin connected to Ultrasonic Sensor's ECHO pin
const int BUZZER_PIN = 3; // Arduino pin connected to Piezo Buzzer's pin
const int DISTANCE_THRESHOLD = 50; // centimeters
// variables will change:
float duration_us, distance_cm;
// 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() {
pinMode(TRIG_PIN, OUTPUT); // set arduino pin to output mode
pinMode(ECHO_PIN, INPUT); // set arduino pin to input mode
}
void loop() {
// generate 10-microsecond pulse to TRIG pin
digitalWrite(TRIG_PIN, HIGH);
delayMicroseconds(10);
digitalWrite(TRIG_PIN, LOW);
// measure duration of pulse from ECHO pin
duration_us = pulseIn(ECHO_PIN, HIGH);
// calculate the distance
distance_cm = 0.017 * duration_us;
if(distance_cm < DISTANCE_THRESHOLD)
buzzer(); // play a song
delay(500);
}
void buzzer() {
// 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);
}
}
Quick Steps
- Copy the above code and open with Arduino IDE
- Create the pitches.h file On Arduino IDE:

- Either click on the button just below the serial monitor icon and choose "New Tab", or use Ctrl+Shift+N.
- Give file's name "pitches.h" and click "OK" button
- Copy the below code and paste it to that file.
/*************************************************
* Public Constants
*************************************************/
#define NOTE_B0 31
#define NOTE_C1 33
#define NOTE_CS1 35
#define NOTE_D1 37
#define NOTE_DS1 39
#define NOTE_E1 41
#define NOTE_F1 44
#define NOTE_FS1 46
#define NOTE_G1 49
#define NOTE_GS1 52
#define NOTE_A1 55
#define NOTE_AS1 58
#define NOTE_B1 62
#define NOTE_C2 65
#define NOTE_CS2 69
#define NOTE_D2 73
#define NOTE_DS2 78
#define NOTE_E2 82
#define NOTE_F2 87
#define NOTE_FS2 93
#define NOTE_G2 98
#define NOTE_GS2 104
#define NOTE_A2 110
#define NOTE_AS2 117
#define NOTE_B2 123
#define NOTE_C3 131
#define NOTE_CS3 139
#define NOTE_D3 147
#define NOTE_DS3 156
#define NOTE_E3 165
#define NOTE_F3 175
#define NOTE_FS3 185
#define NOTE_G3 196
#define NOTE_GS3 208
#define NOTE_A3 220
#define NOTE_AS3 233
#define NOTE_B3 247
#define NOTE_C4 262
#define NOTE_CS4 277
#define NOTE_D4 294
#define NOTE_DS4 311
#define NOTE_E4 330
#define NOTE_F4 349
#define NOTE_FS4 370
#define NOTE_G4 392
#define NOTE_GS4 415
#define NOTE_A4 440
#define NOTE_AS4 466
#define NOTE_B4 494
#define NOTE_C5 523
#define NOTE_CS5 554
#define NOTE_D5 587
#define NOTE_DS5 622
#define NOTE_E5 659
#define NOTE_F5 698
#define NOTE_FS5 740
#define NOTE_G5 784
#define NOTE_GS5 831
#define NOTE_A5 880
#define NOTE_AS5 932
#define NOTE_B5 988
#define NOTE_C6 1047
#define NOTE_CS6 1109
#define NOTE_D6 1175
#define NOTE_DS6 1245
#define NOTE_E6 1319
#define NOTE_F6 1397
#define NOTE_FS6 1480
#define NOTE_G6 1568
#define NOTE_GS6 1661
#define NOTE_A6 1760
#define NOTE_AS6 1865
#define NOTE_B6 1976
#define NOTE_C7 2093
#define NOTE_CS7 2217
#define NOTE_D7 2349
#define NOTE_DS7 2489
#define NOTE_E7 2637
#define NOTE_F7 2794
#define NOTE_FS7 2960
#define NOTE_G7 3136
#define NOTE_GS7 3322
#define NOTE_A7 3520
#define NOTE_AS7 3729
#define NOTE_B7 3951
#define NOTE_C8 4186
#define NOTE_CS8 4435
#define NOTE_D8 4699
#define NOTE_DS8 4978
- Click Upload button on Arduino IDE to upload code to Arduino
- Move your hand in front of sensor
- Listen to piezo buzzer's melody
Code Explanation
Read the line-by-line explanation in comment lines of source code!
※ NOTE THAT:
- The above code is for the learning purpose. The ultrasonic sensor is very sensitive to noise. If you want to use the ultrasonic sensor in practice, you should filter noise for the ultrasonic sensor. See how to filter noise for ultrasonic sensor
Video Tutorial
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