Physics 1200

Review Questions

Tuning and Timbre

May 14, 2012

Question 1

The piano is tuned by which method?• (a) Equal Temperament• (b) Meantone• (c) Just Tuning• (d) Pythagorean• (e) none of these

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Question 2

A violinist will probably tune by which method?• (a) Equal Temperament• (b) Meantone• (c) Just Tuning• (d) Pythagorean• (e) none of these

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Question 3

Where are the “A” notes?

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Question 4

A major triad chord would be which of these?• (a) DFA• (b) ACE• (c) GBD• (d) EGB• (e) none of these

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Question 5

Which tuning method is based upon having major triad chords exactly harmonic?

• (a) Equal Temperament• (b) Meantone• (c) Just Tuning• (d) Pythagorean• (e) none of these

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Question 6

In just tuning, the frequency ratios for a major triad chord would be:

• (a) 1:2:3• (b) 1:3:5• (c) 4:5:6• (d) 10:12:15• (e) 1:4:7

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Question 7

Which tuning method is based upon the cycle of fifths?

• (a) Equal Temperament• (b) Meantone• (c) Just Tuning• (d) Pythagorean• (e) Pentatonic

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Question 8How many “cents” are there in a major 6th

interval?• (a) 500• (b) 600• (c) 900• (d) 9/12=0.75• (e)

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Question 9How many “cents” is there from:

• C1 to C2

• C2 to C3

• C1 to E1

• C3 to E3

• C1 to C4

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• 1200• 1200• 400• 400• 3600

Question 10

A violin and clarinet both playing same “C” note sound different because of:

• (a) phase• (b) modulation• (c) timbre• (d) vibrato• (e) none of these

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Question 11

Which waveform is the most pure (no harmonics)?

• (a) square• (b) triangular• (c) sine• (d) sawtooth• (e) tangent

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Question 12

Which property of sound does the ear NOT distinguish?

• (a) frequency• (b) phase• (c) amplitude• (d) timbre• (e) can hear ALL of these

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Question 13

A square wave has• (a) no harmonics• (b) no fundamental harmonic• (c) only odd harmonics• (d) only even harmonics• (e) all harmonics

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Question 14

Any periodic wave can be constructed from a sum of harmonics. Whose theorem is this?

• (a) Helmholtz• (b) Ohm• (c) Fechner• (d) Bernoulli• (e) Fourier

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Question 15

The Quiz on Wednesday will include:• (a) Tuning Theory• (b) Timbre• (c) Chapter 8• (d) Chapter 18• (e) section 6.3• (f) All of these

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