Musical Soundwaves

Farrell mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
Fri, 2 Aug 2002 09:10:24 -0400


Why does a flute sound like a flute? Why does an obo sound like an obo? Why does a guitar sound like a guitar? And last, but certainly not least, why does a piano sound like a piano? 

Does anyone have a simplistic explanation for what is the cause of unique sounds/tones among various instruments? If you play A4 at a pitch of 440 Hz on any instument, you will hear the pitch of 400 Hz. But they will all sound different. So I guess they all do something different to the soundwave that reaches your ear. What is that difference? How does a speaker reproduce these differences of they only move in and out?

Thanks for any thoughts.

Terry Farrell


  



This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC