Timbre

Even though two instruments can play in the exact same pitch they sound different. This is interesting since a pitch (a note) is simply a frequency. The note A on the third string second fret of the guitar should the frequency of around 440 Hz depending on tuning. This note has the same frequency independently of what instrument plays it and should, in principle, sound exactly the same with all instruments. The reason this is not so is that instruments do not produce a single frequency.

While an instrument may be playing an A (440 Hz), it is producing other frequencies as well, some of which are higher (overtones) and some of which are lower (undertones). Overtones and undertones are not as pronounced as the fundamental frequency that is being played, but they do change how an instrument sounds.

Timbre is the quality of a sound defined by the overtones and undertones contained in that sound.

Different instruments produce sounds with inherently different qualities even if they play in the same pitch. Those qualities of the sound are the sounds timbre.

Add new comment

Filtered HTML

  • Freelinking helps you easily create HTML links. Links take the form of [[indicator:target|Title]]. By default (no indicator): Click to view a local node.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.

Plain text

  • No HTML tags allowed.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.