The Singing Keyboard Prank by jgillick
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Connect the musical element from a singing greeting card to the caps lock LED on the victims keyboard. Now each time they press the caps lock key the music plays (and quite loud too).

This is a great sleeping prank -- It might be found on the first day, or several weeks from the implementation. It's the perfect prank.

Difficulty: Easy, but involved. (ability to solder and use a multi-meter helps)

Disclaimer
If you decide to do this prank, understand that it could be a career-limiting move if it is done on your boss and/or somebody without a sense of humor. I would also recommend experimenting with a dummy keyboard that you don't mind destroying first.

Why Caps?
True, most people don't use caps lock very often, if ever, but unfortunately not many other keys are linked to an LED. Also most keys are only pressed momentarily, which would require a more complicated circuit to work effectively. The num lock LED turns on and off several times during boot time, so that's out which only leaves the caps lock as a viable solution.

Vote
If you like this instructable, please give it a vote.

Origin of this Project
This was originally posted on on my blog (before KipKays video):
http://blog.mozmonkey.com/2006/april_fools_hack/
 
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Step 1: Setup

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To start you’ll need, of course, several musical greeting cards. Hallmark stores usually have a section dedicated to these cards. You’ll also need these tools and supplies:

1. Screw drivers (Phillips and a wide slotted)
2. Needle nose pliers
3. Soldering iron + solder
4. Thin wire (22 gauge works well)
5. NPN transistor
6. Electrical tape

You can get all these from your local RadioShack.

I bought a CoolHeat soldering iron for this project due to its great portability. If you get one of these be sure to purchase at least 2 replacement tips since they’re brittle and WILL break during normal use.
james.mcglashan says: May 22, 2009. 4:52 AM
y not just use the scroll lock key as a switch to power a usb as a hidden usb that can be turned of using the keyboard and also off using a led dont put this on the site i will do it.
james.mcglashan says: May 22, 2009. 4:52 AM
all in the key board
james.mcglashan says: May 22, 2009. 4:52 AM
only another hidden usb hack lol
james.mcglashan says: May 22, 2009. 4:53 AM
the first with an on off switch lol using a led and evan without the led part...
james.mcglashan says: May 22, 2009. 5:35 AM
who thinks it would be nice
james.mcglashan says: May 22, 2009. 5:36 AM
i would need somethink like more batterys if wireless if not wireless then i need a hub who knos how to make a hub for a wireless usb thingy
yobwoc says: Aug 8, 2009. 9:01 AM
you have way
yobwoc says: Aug 8, 2009. 9:01 AM
way way way way
yobwoc says: Aug 8, 2009. 9:01 AM
way way way way
yobwoc says: Aug 8, 2009. 9:01 AM
way way way way
yobwoc says: Aug 8, 2009. 9:02 AM
way way way too many replys to yourself
Redgerr says: Jul 8, 2010. 8:00 AM
i lol'd
ndreschel says: Sep 7, 2011. 6:11 PM
Sames :P
shellback says: May 25, 2011. 12:07 PM
Fantastic prank! Thanks!
My boss's keyboard has been playing the funky chicken song for the last year and a half.
He thinks it's a virus.
DELETED_McDonalds825 says: Aug 12, 2009. 11:24 PM
(removed by author or community request)
jgillick (author) says: Aug 13, 2009. 8:04 AM
If you look at the date my original blog post (http://blog.mozmonkey.com/2006/april_fools_hack/) you'll notice that Kip took my instructions and neglected to give me any credit.
mason0190 says: Oct 15, 2009. 4:01 PM
mhm, he'll do that.
SGplayer says: Oct 13, 2009. 1:46 PM
 bwahahahaha! now everytime someone clicks caps they hear " mother i come bearing a gift. its in my diaper and its not a toaster" 

hilarious
shmuki says: Sep 24, 2008. 9:40 PM
my caps led flashes on start up too
yobwoc says: Aug 8, 2009. 9:09 AM
then your victim will have to listen to, "he-... hey-.he-......hey now, your a ro-... hey now, your a rock st-... h-....... hey now, your a rockstar. get the show o-... XDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXD
totos says: Apr 26, 2009. 11:46 AM
another way to undo the prank:cut any of the controlling wires and make a switch at the bottom of the keyboard, then connect the ends of the cut wire to the switch, label the switch as "caps music" and give the victim an option to choose to either leave the music or to turn it off.
headcrab says: Mar 24, 2009. 3:26 PM
Cold Heat Is Rubbish i used it in a really exspensive project lol it didnt say on the box that it would fry everything! there goes a $70 circuit
mg0930mg says: Mar 1, 2009. 4:50 PM
Cold heats suck. Ok, good other then that.
mman1506 says: Mar 22, 2009. 5:24 PM
cold heat went bankrupt . the coldheat glue guns nice
mg0930mg says: Mar 23, 2009. 6:40 PM
Is it, didn't want to purchase anything after that crappy soldering iron. :R
granjef3 says: Feb 27, 2009. 11:10 PM
i think he did not want it removed so he would be forced to use the shift key... or else!
Millawi Legend says: Jan 3, 2009. 1:01 PM

Cool!

IW5 Industries says: Oct 30, 2008. 3:22 PM
i have the same keyboard
craig3 says: Apr 3, 2008. 10:49 PM
Hey man, thats the same drill i have. May be a bit slow but its got some torque on it ai?
jgillick (author) says: Apr 3, 2008. 11:02 PM
Yeah, I love that drill! It was great for a "covert operation" like this.
PocketSized says: Apr 3, 2008. 6:16 PM
Very nice prank. You've got my vote.

KipKay has plagiarized ideas before, so I'd find it no surprise if your claims were correct.
Talk crap for money! It’s easy!
joejoerowley says: Apr 3, 2008. 5:44 PM
Dude, thats bogus. I really respected kipkay. makes me sad. Nice instructable!
jgillick (author) says: Apr 3, 2008. 5:28 PM
For those thinking this is a copy of Kipkay's:

Look at the datestamp on Kipkay's and the datestamp on my original blog entry:
(April 2006) http://blog.mozmonkey.com/2006/april_fools_hack/
(December 2006) http://www.metacafe.com/watch/327832/great_keyboard_practical_joke_prank/

Kipkay copied me. His video uses exactly the same instructions as my original, yet I did not get any credit.
A good name says: Apr 3, 2008. 3:23 PM
This is one hundred percent copied from kipkays "Musical keyboard prank" DO NOT VOTE FOR HIM. On the other hand, vote for me :D But, if Kipkay's entered by now, just don't bother to vote for me, cuz he'll win :(
jgillick (author) says: Apr 3, 2008. 5:09 PM
Look at the datestamp on Kipkay's and the datestamp on my original blog entry:
http://blog.mozmonkey.com/2006/april_fools_hack/

Kipkay copied me. His video uses exactly the same instructions as my original, yet I did not get any credit.
GorillazMiko says: Apr 3, 2008. 4:58 PM
Hahaha, awesome! This is like Kipkay's though.
jgillick (author) says: Apr 3, 2008. 5:09 PM
Look at the datestamp on Kipkay's and the datestamp on my original blog entry:
http://blog.mozmonkey.com/2006/april_fools_hack/

Kipkay copied me. His video uses exactly the same instructions as my original, yet I did not get any credit.
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