21 Flashcards
Distinguish between noise and music.
Noise is made of irregular waves, whereas music is made of periodic waves.
How does a high-pitch musical note relate to frequency?
High pitch is how the ear perceives high frequencies.
How many decibels correspond to the lowest-intensity sound we can hear?
0 decibels
What did Fourier discover about complex periodic wave patterns?
Complex periodic signals can be disassembled into a sum of simple sine waves.
If sound becomes louder, which wave characteristic is likely increasing - frequency, wavelength, amplitude, or speed?
amplitude
What is the wavelength of the lowest sounds we can hear, about 20Hz?
17m
Consider three notes: A 123Hz; B 721Hz; and C 458Hz. Rank (high to low) for frequency
721, 458, 123
Consider three notes: A 123Hz; B 721Hz; and C 458Hz. Rank (high to low) for pitch
721, 458, 123
Consider three notes: A 123Hz; B 721Hz; and C 458Hz. Rank (long to short) for wavelength
123, 458, 721
Pitch
Rapid vibrations, high pitch. Slow vibrations, low pitch. Pitch is determined by frequency as received by the ear.
Intensity
Determines the perceived loudness of sound
Depends on the amplitude of pressure variations within a sound wave.
Quality
Determined by prominence of the harmonics and by the presence and relative intensity of the various partials.
Difference between same not on a clarinet vs a piano.
What does the intensity of sound depend on?
The amplitude of pressure variations within the sound wave.
What intensities does the human ear respond to?
From 10-12 W/m2 (barely percievable) to more than 1 W/m2 (painful).
What is intensity of sound measured in? Sound level?
W/m2, decibel
10-12 W/m2 = 0 decibel (barely audible)
T/F The ear senses all frequencies the same
False. Some frequencies are sensed much better than others. A 3500 Hz sound at 80 decibels sounds twice as loud to most people as a 125 hz sound at 80 decibels.
Humans are most sensitive to the ____ range of frequencies.
3500
Timbre
Describes all aspects of a sound aside from pitch, loudness or length of tone. (the color of a sound - difference between the same note on a piano and a clarinet)
A pair of tones with the same pitch with different qualities have either?
different partials or a difference in relative intensity of the partials.
Loudness is a ?
Physiological sensation
Partial tone
Single frequency component sound wave of a complex tone
Fundamental frequency
Lowest frequency of vibration or first harmonic in a musical tone
Harmonic
A partial tone whose frequency is an integer multiple of the fundamental frequency
Second harmonic is twice the freq of the fundamental and so on.
