How did William Duddell’s singing arc create different musical notes?

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Moog synthesizer — electronic instrument Moog electronic sound synthesizer

William Duddell’s singing arc generated musical tones by manipulating the rate of pulsation of an electric arc. This rate was controlled by a resonant circuit composed of an inductor and a capacitor. By using a keyboard to adjust the tuning of this circuit, the player could alter the arc's pulsation frequency, thereby producing distinct musical notes.1