If your house doorbell is used often, then it should have a more interesting sound than the usual chimes or the harsh, startling buzzers we’re all too familiar with. After all, it’s often the very first interaction guests have with your home—so why not make it memorable? A doorbell doesn’t have to be a bland, utilitarian beep; it can be an opportunity to showcase personality and creativity. It would be far more enjoyable if the doorbell chimes were… well, actually fun, maybe even musical. With just a bit of ingenuity, that mundane “ding-dong” can become a delightful experience, setting a warm and welcoming tone right at your doorstep.
Here’s a melodic twist on that classic doorbell: the Piano Doorbell. Instead of a simple ding‑dong, visitors are greeted with a short musical note each time they step up to your door. This personal project is a compact keypad of five 3D‑printed piano keys, three white, two black, designed to look and feel like real piano keys, complete with satisfying travel and tactility.
Designer: Arpan Mondal
It is built around an ESP32S3 microcontroller that reads key presses and plays a piano‑sampled audio clip for each respective note. The audio is amplified using a PAM8403 module, ensuring the sound carries throughout the house — not exactly hi‑fi, but more delightful than a typical doorbell. The doorbell was designed using Fusion 360 with separate keys and housing and then 3D printed in PLA. It is then spray-painted glossy white for a polished finish and to give it a more piano feel.
Each key presses a micro limit switch underneath, offering real piano‑like travel and a clean click when pressed. A resistor ladder (5×10 kΩ resistors) lets the ESP32S3 distinguish each key via measured voltage—the clever solution condenses wiring to just two conductor lines. There are embedded piano audio samples in its firmware so you can have several sound options. It is amplified via PAM8403 to a doorbell speaker, giving you ample volume and a playful tone.
The Piano Doorbell is a whimsical build, turning a mundane interaction into something joyful. If you want to build your own, you can also learn more about PCB design, resister ladders, audio amplification, and microcontroller coding. You can also sample your own audio and add more keys for fuller melodies or even assign tunes. Whether you’re a seasoned maker or just someone looking to add a personal touch to your home, the Piano Doorbell offers a fun and rewarding project. It’s a great example of how technology, creativity, and a bit of playful thinking can transform everyday experiences into something memorable.
The post Piano doorbell turns regular “ding dongs” into a delightful melody first appeared on Yanko Design.