Stupid question but still

Hi guys

Even though this forum is about paper music boxes I have a question which I believe should relate to all music boxes. Its super simple yet I have been googling for several days with no luck. Its about writing for music box.

What does the number really mean in the music box type? 15-note, 18-note, 30-note etc., etc.

I had understood it meant the total number of individual combs. So I wrote a piece for three voices for an 18-note box (not paper) that stayed within the range of 17 notes. I sent it to someone to prototype so i could make 100 or so to sell at my shows. She said it could not be made as written. She did not say why.

So that being said - it stayed within 17 notes.
So does the number refer to the absolute length of a song? 15 total notes whether repeated or not?

Was my melody too high perhaps
I am really excited about my music boxes its been a project in my mind for a number of years and yet very hard to find info.

Leon

posted by leonaerosen on March 22, 2024, 5:18 p.m.

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gaurov on March 22, 2024, 5:38 p.m.

I'm pretty sure that what you're talking about is the range of the music box, basically how many different notes you have available to play, like an octave is 7 or 12 (with the black keys) notes

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leonaerosen on March 22, 2024, 9:25 p.m.

Thanks Daurov - Thats what I thought - but when I wrote a piece that only used 17 different notes, she said it will not work. It used 3 voices

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mauk on March 23, 2024, 6:02 p.m.

Why can't you ask for the reason why it can't be made?
You said it is a music box without paper, so I guess it is with a drum? They probably have a limitation with the length of the melody.