Mon Prof Augmenté
String Waves and Tone
Age 16 · Music
A taut string can vibrate in simple patterns with one, two, or three loops. The blend of these patterns helps shape the sound colour of an instrument.
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Age 16: open this week
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In the picture
- The single broad loop of the top string: the first and lowest vibration pattern.
- The still point at the center of the middle string: a node between two equal loops.
- The three loops of the bottom string: a higher whole-number vibration pattern.
- The violin at the right: a bowed instrument whose string vibrations and body give it a bright tone colour.
- The clarinet at the right: a wind instrument whose air column and reed give it a hollow tone colour.
Examples
- A guitar string plucked near the bridge sounds brighter than one plucked over the neck.
- A flute and an oboe can play the same note yet sound clearly different.
Key takeaways
- A vibrating string naturally divides into whole-number patterns called harmonics.
- The mixture and strength of harmonics help create an instrument’s timbre.
Quiz: String Waves and Tone (Age 16)
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According to the card, what are the whole-number vibration patterns of a string called?
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According to the card, what helps create an instrument’s timbre?
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In a vibrating string pattern, what is a node?
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