Let's Make Spooky Sounds

At the Magic City Discovery Center, we love exploring the science behind what makes us feel, even when it’s a little spooky! Have you ever wondered why certain sounds send shivers down your spine? According to Andrew Lynch, a sound designer and assistant professor at the Auburn University, it all comes down to how our brains process sound and emotion. The amygdala, our brain’s emotion center, reacts to certain sounds almost instantly, even before we realize it. That’s why the screeching violins in Psycho or the pulsing two-note rhythm in Jaws make us tense up without thinking! Lynch explains that our brains prefer simple musical patterns, like a calm, even rhythm, but when we hear unusual or “dissonant” intervals, like the jagged notes used in scary movies, it feels unnatural and alarming. It’s science and art working together to play tricks on our minds! Whether kids are experimenting with pitch, rhythm, or sound in our music and light exhibits, they’re exploring the same principles that make spooky sounds so effective and discovering how science can shape emotion, storytelling, and imagination.

So, how can you make spooky sounds at home?

Test out these easy DIYs and see what sends shivers down your spine!

1. Howling Balloon Cup

• You’ll need: a paper cup, a straw, a balloon, and a rubber band.

• Stretch the balloon over the cup opening and secure it with a rubber band. Insert the straw through a small hole in the side and gently blow air across the top of the balloon. Adjust the angle and speed until you hear a ghostly “howl!” The sound changes because the vibrations move through the air at different frequencies. This is a great way to explore sound waves in action.

2. Screaming Cup

• You’ll need: a plastic cup, a paperclip, and a piece of string.

• Poke a hole in the bottom of the cup and thread the string through. Tie it to the paperclip to hold it in place. When you pull on the string with a damp cloth, it vibrates, creating a screechy, squeaky sound!

• Try changing how tightly you hold the string or how wet your fingers are to hear different pitches.

3. Monster Voice Modulator

• You’ll need: a paper towel tube or PVC pipe.

• Speak or hum into one end and listen to how your voice changes! The sound waves bounce around inside, stretching and deepening your voice.

• Try tubes of different lengths and materials to hear how resonance changes tone.

4. Banshee Balloon

• You’ll need: a balloon and a hex nut (or small coin).

• Drop the hex nut into the balloon and blow it up. Hold the balloon’s neck tightly and swirl it in a circular motion. The hex nut will spin around inside, making an eerie wailing or growling sound! The nut vibrates against the balloon’s surface, creating friction that turns into spooky vibrations.

• Try different balloon sizes to hear how the pitch changes.

5. Spooky Straw Kazoo

• You’ll need: a straw and scissors.

• Flatten one end of the straw and snip it into a point (like a triangle). Place the pointed end in your mouth and blow. This will make a buzzing, duck-like sound!

• Adjust how much of the straw you cut off to change the pitch. The flattened tip vibrates just like a reed in a woodwind instrument, showing how air and vibration create sound.

6. Haunted Hanger

• You’ll need: a metal coat hanger and two pieces of string (about 2 feet long).

• Tie a string to each side of the hanger’s hook. Wrap the ends of the strings around your fingers and press your fingers into your ears. Now, gently tap the hanger against a table or door. You’ll hear a deep, echoing “gong” sound that seems to come from inside your head! The vibrations travel through the string and bones in your ears. This one is a great way to feel sound instead of just hearing it.

7. Ghost-in-a-Can

• You’ll need: a clean metal can (like a coffee can), a piece of string, and a paperclip.

• Poke a hole in the bottom of the can and thread the string through, tying it to the paperclip inside. Wet the string and pull it between your fingers. You’ll hear a spooky ghostly moan! The wetness increases friction, creating vibrations that echo through the can.

• Try different string lengths or can sizes to experiment with pitch and resonance.

For more ideas, check out this video!