
Math Student Plays Two 'Star Wars' Songs With Nothing But a Pencil
By Mark PygasNov. 18 2019, Updated 2:37 p.m. ET
We challenge you to name a more iconic band than Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes. Or as you may know them, the yellow alien guys who play the Cantina Theme in Star Wars: A New Hope.

And as it turns out, you can play the Cantina Theme with nothing but a pencil. Twitter user Dani was doing her math homework when she noticed the equation she was working on sounded familiar. Have a listen. You'll need sound on, obviously.
It started with x+4... and I couldn’t unhear it.
— dani (@d4niphantom) January 11, 2018
I was supposed to do my math homework but instead I figured out what the Cantina Theme would sound like if your instrument was a pencil. (Volume all the way up) pic.twitter.com/c86RhZiDHP
Here it is with the music over the top.
With music for those wondering what the heck this is.
— dani (@d4niphantom) January 11, 2018
(Excuse my reddit tag, I wasn’t about to re-edit the video for Twitter, no sir) pic.twitter.com/soM31GuF8X
But it doesn't end there. Here she is doing the Imperial March...
Here’s the Imperial March my friends pic.twitter.com/NBrbNSBtxu
— dani (@d4niphantom) January 11, 2018
What is this magic?! How did she manage to take two things that are pretty difficult — math, and playing music — and turn them into something so beautiful? If you find yourself asking that, you're definitely not alone. Yes, social media was just as entranced as we were. And how could they not be?!
The absolute giddiness when your inner Star Wars geek and your inner mathematics nerd collide in the most absurdly entertaining way.... https://t.co/Zn7kwdiCBy
— 34inXXIII (@34inXXIII) January 12, 2018
These two users were happy that the tweet was getting people to think about math. Even though, to be honest, as inspired and impressed as we are about the math, this has very little to do with math and everything to do with
Music and math are the language of the universe... or at least a galaxy far far away https://t.co/f8ajVC3OHC
— Unlimitd Shade Works (@DanjirBelaforte) January 12, 2018
I'm working towards being a math teacher and this has me so excited. Thank you for this.
— Anpan 💜 Android 💜 Angel (@IdolFarFromHome) January 12, 2018
this is entirely ridiculous but I cannot properly convey how much I love it
— new year new b (@ScrewItImIsaacB) January 12, 2018
Some people were more interested in what all that math actually meant.
can someone please solve the cantina equation?
— ice cream cone (@LukeElliott231) January 11, 2018
Actually after double and triple checking my work, I’ve reached this solution pic.twitter.com/yaa5GbaqGC
— Jeff (@ptak_attack17) January 12, 2018
This is usually the kind of thing I am doing when I tell someone I’m busy and can’t hang out 🤷🏻♀️
— Liza Dixon ⚡️ (@lizadixon) January 12, 2018
Others wanted to go even further — insisting that if the result was that good with a single pencil, we probably can't even comprehend how amazing it would be with an entire orchestra of writing utensils.
Imagine a 60 pencil orchestra
— Tim McDonnell (@TimMac117) January 12, 2018
I LOVE YOU 😭😭😭
— shruti (@shrutithenaik) January 12, 2018
Some are calling for a record deal.
Get this man a record deal! 🤣
— Ho-Sway (@Nando9714) January 12, 2018
Talent.
— Grace misses YWT (way more then I should) (@gamer__grace) January 12, 2018
One person even managed to fool their parents with it — and had to disappoint her father when he thought they were about to watch Star Wars.
my dad sent me this as i was watching the second one in the thread. hes in a different room LMAO. we’re not about to watch star wars pic.twitter.com/g7yaT9khzG
— lauren (@laurenauroraa) January 12, 2018
Underrated tweet lmao
— joey💎 (@djjoeyg3) January 12, 2018
That's sick haha
— Zain (@zainn_95) January 12, 2018
me with the replay button pic.twitter.com/ubD14MGPlB
— lEAna (@sixfeetall) January 11, 2018
Try this at home.