Properties of Sound

Four Properties of Sound

Frequency (pitch)Amplitude (volume)Timbre (quality/color)Duration (length)

Frequency

A sound wave is created by vibrations.

The vibrating object which creates the disturbance could be the vocal cords of a person, the vibrating string and sound board of a guitar or violin, or the vibrating diaphragm of a radio speaker. 1 Hertz = 1 vibration/second

A normal human can hear between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz

Examples of different Frequencies…

Test your hearing….Where do you cut off?

Frequency Examples

16.35 Hz: Lowest note for tuba, large pipe organs

32.70 Hz: Lowest C on a standard 88-key piano

65.41 Hz: Lowest note on a cello 130.81 Hz: Lowest note for viola 261.63: “Middle” C

523.25: Lowest piccolo note 1046.50: Highest note in female

human voice 2093: Highest note for a flute 4186: Highest note on a piano 16744: Tone a non-HDTV emits

while running

Pitch

Definition: The highness or lowness of a soundThe higher the frequency, the higher the pitch

The lower the frequency, the lower the pitch

Amplitude

The volume level of sound

Measures the height of the sound waves

Measured in decibles (dB)

Timbre

(“Tamber”)The type of sound created

DurationThe length of time that a sound

is sustained Rhythm and MeterTempo: the speed of the musicBPM: Beats per minute-

measures the speed of music

Notating Music

What is a Staff? 5 Horizontal lines that music is written on

Musical Alphabet: A,B,C,D,E,F,G

We use a clef to determine where the notes fall on the staff.

The Staff

Treble Clef

“G Clef” Every Good Boy Does Fine FACE

Bass Clef

“F Clef” Great Big Dogs Fight Animals All Cows Eat Grass