# Tune the ATM plays when dispensing cash? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 10, 2005, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tune-the-atm-plays-when-dispensing-cash/320933 "2005-09-10T03:05:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![paiute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@paiute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paiute)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tune-the-atm-plays-when-dispensing-cash/320933/1 "2005-09-10T03:05:34Z")
Why does an ATM play that short tune when it is putting the bills into the dispenser? I can whistle it by heart: doododododoodoododldodldodldodl. What possible reason is there for ATMs to make noise anyway? And why the brief techno tune? If I whistle the tune into the ATM, will it give me free cash? And why is something so strange as this unGoogleable? This is making me crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tune-the-atm-plays-when-dispensing-cash/320933/2 "2005-09-10T03:17:00Z")
I’ve never heard an ATM make music. I’ve heard it make mechanical noises as it uses the machinery to count up and release the cash. Perhaps that’s what you’re hearing, a mechanical noise. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tune-the-atm-plays-when-dispensing-cash/320933/3 "2005-09-10T03:19:41Z")
Do you mean the whirr the picker in the ATM makes when it’s pulling bills out of the cartridges and dropping them in the dispenser right before it dispenses the bills? Could it be a mechanical sound? There have to be a dozen companies making ATMs and dozens of institutions operating the software that drives the ATMs at the server end. The ATM manufacturers aren’t going to all play the same “song”. The banks/ATM networks aren’t going to choose to play the same “song”. Do you hear these at all ATMs or just some ATMs? Are all the ATMs you know one brand? Are all the ATMs you know driven by the same bank or ATM network? I work around banks all day, and I can’t imagine what you’re talking about unless it’s the machinery. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tune-the-atm-plays-when-dispensing-cash/320933/4 "2005-09-10T03:22:15Z")
You’re sure this was an ATM and not a slot machine? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tune-the-atm-plays-when-dispensing-cash/320933/5 "2005-09-10T12:41:58Z")
I don’t think it’s a tune, but the mechanical components do make the same exact sound when dispensing cash, and it is somewhat melodic like a very quiet crescendo or fanfare, (or a call to charge! (it)). I don’t know why it does so, but I’ve always assumed it’s a result of the same exact process being conducted by exact same parts created by Diebold. I have used 3rd party ATM’s which didn’t seem to produce the sound, but they’re of a different style than the Bank of America ones I regularly use. ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tune-the-atm-plays-when-dispensing-cash/320933/6 "2005-09-10T12:44:32Z")
There’s the fwapfwapfwap of the bills being counted and picked, and there’s the slightly melodic sound of the gears and pulleys (which your’e probably hearing) as it lifts the currency to the opening, but I don’t think you’re hearing an intentional tune. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tune-the-atm-plays-when-dispensing-cash/320933/7 "2005-09-10T14:02:03Z")
> [@Purd Werfect](#): > > I don’t think it’s a tune, but the mechanical components do make the same exact sound when dispensing cash, and it is somewhat melodic like a very quiet crescendo or fanfare, (or a call to charge! (it)). My favorite ATM makes that tune too. It’s the 5-note pattern played at ball games to cue people to yell “Charge”. It can be played as the notes C-E-G-E-G with the third note a beat and a half and the fourth note a half beat. It’s a cute little fanfare: “ta da DA da da . . . here’s your money”. ---
**Author:** ![caligynephobia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7feea3/32.png) [@caligynephobia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligynephobia)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tune-the-atm-plays-when-dispensing-cash/320933/8 "2005-09-10T14:46:54Z")
The ATMs I use sound like Woody Woodpecker’s laugh, or the opening tune to the show. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tune-the-atm-plays-when-dispensing-cash/320933/9 "2005-09-10T16:13:05Z")
> [@caligynephobia](#): > > The ATMs I use sound like Woody Woodpecker’s laugh, or the opening tune to the show. I’ve heard this, too. I want to say that those machines were manufactured by Interbold. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tune-the-atm-plays-when-dispensing-cash/320933/10 "2005-09-10T17:13:32Z")
I’ve never heard of Interbold. However, I have seen Diebold ATMs. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tune-the-atm-plays-when-dispensing-cash/320933/11 "2005-09-10T17:49:32Z")
I have **never** in my life heard a tune when getting money from an ATM. It would be well worth the $1.50 they gouge from me when I happen to use a non-network ATM to hear that ballpark “Charge” theme. “Ta da DA da da . . . here’s your money!” I like it! ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tune-the-atm-plays-when-dispensing-cash/320933/12 "2005-09-10T18:34:28Z")
[nitpick] Isn’t the CHARGE pattern six notes, not five? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tune-the-atm-plays-when-dispensing-cash/320933/13 "2005-09-10T18:35:23Z")
> [@laina\_f](#): > > My favorite ATM makes that tune too. It’s the 5-note pattern played at ball games to cue people to yell “Charge”. It can be played as the notes C-E-G-E-G with the third note a beat and a half and the fourth note a half beat. It’s a cute little fanfare: “ta da DA da da . . . here’s your money”. So does mine. The exact same tune. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tune-the-atm-plays-when-dispensing-cash/320933/14 "2005-09-10T18:49:38Z")
> [@neuroman](#): > > [nitpick] > Isn’t the CHARGE pattern six notes, not five? Surely you mean seven, right? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tune-the-atm-plays-when-dispensing-cash/320933/15 "2005-09-10T20:10:22Z")
6 notes: (low) G - C - E - G - E - G. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tune-the-atm-plays-when-dispensing-cash/320933/16 "2005-09-11T00:51:02Z")
To be more precise. . . the 1-3-5-3-5 note pattern played by my ATM machine is a _simplified_ version of the “Charge!” cue. I agree with **panache45** that the true call is 6 notes: (low) G - C - E - G - E - G. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tune-the-atm-plays-when-dispensing-cash/320933/17 "2005-09-11T05:20:45Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > I’ve never heard of Interbold. However, I have seen Diebold ATMs. Interbold was a joint venture between Diebold and IBM. Diebold captured an early market share, had a good product, and won over time. Olivetti, Inter Innovation (LeFebure), Docutel, NCR, Fujitsu, and a few others have had varying levels of success. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tune-the-atm-plays-when-dispensing-cash/320933/18 "2005-09-11T06:44:10Z")
I’ve never heard a musical ATM before either (just ones that hawk mortgage plans while they communicate with HQ). Perhaps you could withdraw a different number of bills next time? If the “tune” changes, then it’s most likely mechanical noise as has been suggested. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Side_of_the_Floyd)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tune-the-atm-plays-when-dispensing-cash/320933/19 "2005-09-11T08:38:58Z")
Going by my (hazy) memory of drawing money from an ATM, I’ve made the tune to what I think the OP is talking about. [http://media.putfile.com/ATMnoise](http://media.putfile.com/ATMnoise) It does sound a lot like the Woody Woodpecker theme. It’s the machinery whirring, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Side_of_the_Floyd)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tune-the-atm-plays-when-dispensing-cash/320933/20 "2005-09-11T08:49:56Z")
I’ve seen it mentioned somewhere else on the internet about the Diebold ATM/Woody Woodpecker-sounding machinery before, so we’re not the only ones wondering about this. Currently, their site ([www.diebold.com](http://www.diebold.com)) isn’t working for me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tune-the-atm-plays-when-dispensing-cash/320933.md?page=2)