Chapter 21 Musical Sounds

Question 1

Pitch

Answer 1

The “highness” or “lowness” of a tone, as on a musical scale, which is principally governed by frequency. A high-frequency vibrating source produces a sounds of high pitch; a low-frequency vibrating source produces a sound of low pitch.

Question 2

Intensity

Answer 2

The power per square meter carried by a sound wave, often measured in decibels.

Question 3

Loudness

Answer 3

The physiological sensation directly related to sound intensity or volume.

Question 4

Quality

Answer 4

The characteristic timbre of a musical sound, which is governed by the number and relative intensities of partial tones.

Question 5

Partial tone

Answer 5

Single-frequency component sound wave of a complex tone. When the frequency of a partial tone is an integer multiple of the lowest frequency, it is referred to as a harmonic.

Question 6

Fundamental frequency

Answer 6

The lowest frequency of vibration, or first harmonic, in a musical tone.

Question 7

Harmonic

Answer 7

A partial tone whose frequency is an integer multiple of the fundamental frequency. The second harmonic has twice the frequency of the fundamental, the third harmonic three times the frequency, and so on in sequence.

Question 8

Fourier analysis

Answer 8

A mathematical method that disassembles any periodic wave form into a combination of simple sine waves.