Properties of Sound
Four Properties of Sound Frequency (pitch) Amplitude (volume) Timbre (quality/color) Duration (length)
1 Hertz = 1 vibration/second 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 sound The 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
Duration The length of time that a sound is sustained Rhythm and Meter Tempo: the speed of the music BPM: Beats per minute- measures the speed of music
Notating Music What is a Staff? Musical Alphabet: 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