# Super Mario Bros. theme played by...Tesla coils? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 7, 2007, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-mario-bros-theme-played-by-tesla-coils/425499 "2007-11-07T02:32:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-mario-bros-theme-played-by-tesla-coils/425499/1 "2007-11-07T02:32:29Z")
[I shit you not!](http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/science/tesla-coils-playing-the-mario-bros-theme-are-unsurprisingly-awesome-319384.php?autoplay=true) ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-mario-bros-theme-played-by-tesla-coils/425499/2 "2007-11-07T02:45:06Z")
Hot damn! ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-mario-bros-theme-played-by-tesla-coils/425499/3 "2007-11-07T03:00:07Z")
Finally science has given us a cooler musical instrument than the theremin. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-mario-bros-theme-played-by-tesla-coils/425499/4 "2007-11-07T04:39:25Z")
That is undeniably cool. I was wondering how the damn thing worked, and came across this [YouTube video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOkTrqTd0hw) explaining the physics and electronics involved. Most of it is over my head, but the short version is that the spark is cycled on and off to match the frequency of the note passed in. This version can even do chords. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-mario-bros-theme-played-by-tesla-coils/425499/5 "2007-11-07T05:00:50Z")
Every decent orchestra should have one. Is it technically a brass instrument? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-mario-bros-theme-played-by-tesla-coils/425499/6 "2007-11-07T05:13:50Z")
A musical instrument that can kill you? That’s metal. That’s totally metal. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-mario-bros-theme-played-by-tesla-coils/425499/7 "2007-11-07T05:19:35Z")
I will go see any touring group that comes through with one of these. Actually - Weird Al needs to use one of these on his next album. I know you’re reading this! A truly electric polka mix! ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-mario-bros-theme-played-by-tesla-coils/425499/8 "2007-11-07T05:48:06Z")
Holy high voltage, Batman! These guys are really onto something great here. I’d like to think they chose the music based on its great farting bassline, but I’ve known enough geeks in my time to know better. My request: One of the Brandenburg Concerti. The one everybody knows. I think it’s #2.