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Question

Name the three characteristics of a musical sound.

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Solution

Characteristics of a musical sound:

The following are the characteristics of a musical sound.

1.Pitch or Frequency
2.Intensity and loudness
3.Quality or Timber.

Pitch or Frequency: The sensation of shrillness produced by a note is known as pitch. It is the sensation conveyed to the brain by the sound waves falling on the ears. This sensation depends directly on the fundamental frequency of incident sound waves. Greater the frequency of a musical note, higher is the pitch. Although the pitch is directly related to the frequency they are different.

The frequency of a note is a physical quantity and can be measured accurately. On the other hand, pitch of a note is merely the sensation experienced by the listener. Thus, frequency is a physical quantity whereas pitch is a physiological quantity.

Intensity and Loudness: A musical sound is characterized by intensity and loudness. These have been discussed in the previous section.

Quality or Timber: The Quality of a musical note is that property which enables us to distinguish it from another note of the same pitch and loudness. It is determined by the number of a harmonics present, their order and relative intensities.


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