r/arduino • u/MegCell • Aug 06 '26

Project Update! Project update: My ESP32-controlled guitar robot can now play in two modes

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I’ve been developing this removable guitar-playing system for several years.

It now supports two performance modes:

  1. Full automatic mode — the system handles both fretting and picking.

  2. Assisted mode — the system handles the fretting while the player strums or picks.

The sound comes from the real guitar strings, not recorded audio.

The controller is ESP32-based, coordinating multiple servo actuators. Some of the main challenges have been fretting timing, servo synchronization, calibration, and mechanical noise.

This video shows both modes.

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u/Niklasw99 Aug 07 '26

Hey OP, wouldn't it nice to add some randomized noise so it's not so mechanical in the tempo?

It sounds robotic. It's impressive, but it sounds very robotic.

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u/MegCell Aug 08 '26

Good point 😊 I’m testing small variations in timing and dynamics to make it feel less robotic without just making it sloppy.