How Does a Theremin Work?

Listen to the pitch glide, then see how a player shapes a note without touching the instrument.

One hand sets the pitch. The other shapes the note.

On the Moog Etherwave, moving a hand closer to the upright antenna raises the pitch. Bringing the other hand closer to the loop lowers the volume, all the way to silence.

Moving a hand changes the capacitance sensed by the circuit. The short uses a schematic and a synthesised glide to illustrate the effect.

Read the listening cues

0:03. Hear the opening pitch sweep.
0:12. Watch the pitch rise as a hand nears the upright antenna.
0:18. Watch the volume fall as the other hand nears the loop.
0:25. See how hand distance changes capacitance.

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Read Moog’s Etherwave guide

Hear a tone that seems to rise forever