What electronic component to change electric motor speed?

[gorcorps]

So I have this setup where I have a small electric motor next to a guitar pickup which makes a really interesting sound. When it spins at different speeds it produces different tones. What do I need to change the speed of the motor on the fly? Some sort of variable resistor? Links to radio shack would help too. Thanks in advance

 

[Newbian]

Originally posted by: gorcorps
So I have this setup where I have a small electric motor next to a guitar pickup which makes a really interesting sound. When it spins at different speeds it produces different tones. What do I need to change the speed of the motor on the fly? Some sort of variable resistor? Links to radio shack would help too. Thanks in advance

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=radio+shack

 

[SlitheryDee]

Split a pencil in half to expose the graphite. Attach one wire to one end of the exposed graphite and the other end of that wire to one of the motor leads. Attach another wire from the motor to the positive terminal of a battery and another wire to the negative terminal of the battery. Leave the end of the wire that is connected to the negative terminal of the battery bare and touch it to the exposed graphite somewhere along its length. The motor should spin at different speeds depending on how close to the wire you have attached to the end of the graphite you touch the bare end of the wire to.

That's probably not the easiest way to do it, but it popped into my mind from something I read as a child.

 

[Red Squirrel]

In most cases voltage will do the trick. I find even with AC motors. While it's not recommended, a dimmer actually works on most electric motors. When I was a kid I wired my fan to a dimmer so I can turn it on/off from my bed or control the speed.

For a small size DC motor a small variable resistor is probably all you need. You could hook up the motor and dial to a small circuit board with a battery holder so it's all one part and find a way to clip it to your guitar for when you use it.

 

[Atheus]

You could play by hand - put a handle on with a few gears to step it up. You don't need any electricity actually flowing just the EM field. Maybe scavenge an old fishing rod? Those are geared up and have good handles.