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542-2012 Physics of Sound_TEXT.qxd 12/7/07 3:42 PM Page 11

INVESTIGATION
2
HIGHS AND
LOWS
W hen we talk about a sound,
we might say it is high. A
small bird’s chirp is a high
sound. Other sounds are described as
low, or deep. When we talk about how
Take Note

high or low a sound is, we are talking
about its pitch.
The pitch of a sound is related to the
frequency, or speed, of the vibrations
coming from a sound source. High-
frequency vibrations move quickly. Low-
frequency vibrations move slowly. High-
frequency vibrations produce a sound
with a high pitch. A sound with a low pitch
comes from low-frequency vibrations.
Adjusting a sound source such as a
musical instrument to produce a certain
pitch is called tuning.
HIGH FREQUENCY = HIGH PITCH
LOW FREQUENCY = LOW PITCH
GETTING IN TUNE
Most musical instruments make
sounds in one of three ways. String
instruments such as the guitar or violin
make sounds with vibrating strings.
Musicians either pluck the strings or
move a bow across them. The strings are
tightened or loosened with tuning pegs.
Each string is tuned to a certain pitch.
Each musical note has a specific
frequency. For instance, middle C
is 262 vibrations per second. It
doesn’t matter what instrument
plays the note. The frequency of
middle C is always 262 vibrations
per second.
Note Frequency
(going up the scale) (number of vibrations
per second)
Middle C 262 do
D 294 re
E 330 mi
F 349 fa
G 392 sol
A 440 la
B 494 ti
High C 524 do
The note at the top of the scale
has exactly twice the frequency of
the note at the bottom. Two
notes, one of which has twice the
frequency of the other, are said to
be separated by an octave.

11
542-2012 Physics of Sound_TEXT.qxd 12/7/07 3:42 PM Page 12

INVESTIGATION
2
Winds around the World
We’re used to seeing and hearing
many wind instruments. Tubas,
saxophones, flutes, and clarinets are
well known. But there are other wind
instruments you may not know about. Violin Guitar
Wind instruments all over the world
vary in shape and sound. They all use a Other pitches can be produced by
vibrating column of air to make sound. pressing down on the strings with
People throughout the world have tried the fingers. This shortens the strings,
using different materials to make making higher pitches.
music. They use what they find in their In wind instruments such as the
own lands. That is why many of these flute or trombone, sound is pro- Cello
instruments work the same way but
duced by a vibrating column of air.
look different. However, some
instruments from different parts of the Pitch is controlled by varying the
world look a lot alike, too. Did you length of this column of air.
know that bagpipes are played in A flute’s pitch is controlled by
Europe, Asia, and Africa? People have placing the fingers over the holes in
always traded and moved from one it. This shortens or lengthens the
country to another. Sometimes this column of air that vibrates inside
spreads musical instruments to
the flute.
different parts of the world.
The sheng is a Chinese wind
instrument. It has many pipes and is
similar to a harmonica.
The zurna is a wind instrument of
Turkey. It is similar to an oboe.
The Middle Eastern nay and the Swazi
umtshingo are both types of flutes.
Australian Aborigines play the
digeridoo. This instrument is a type
of trumpet.
Panpipes, shown at right, are played in
Latin America, Asia, and the Pacific
Islands. The pipes are different lengths
and are tied together. Each pipe is a
simple flute.

12
542-2012 Physics of Sound_TEXT.qxd 12/7/07 3:43 PM Page 13

INVESTIGATION
2

Trombone Flute Panpipes Bongos Kettledrum

A trombone player’s lips vibrate against the mouthpiece

when the player blows. The player tenses and relaxes the lips
to produce different pitches. The player also controls the pitch
by moving a slide back and forth. This changes the length of
the column of air inside the trombone.
With percussion instruments such as the kettledrum,
sound is made by striking the surface. Pitch
depends on the tension (tightness or looseness)
of the surface. The kettledrum can be tuned
to various pitches. This is done by
loosening or tightening the
surface of the drumhead.

BIG SOUNDS,
SMA LL SOUNDS
Tuning varies the pitch of sound
an instrument makes. But the size of
the instrument is important also. Big instru-
ments generally make lower vibrations
than small ones. The smaller the
instrument, the faster the vibrations and
the higher the sound.
Inside a flute, there is a smaller
column of air than inside a trombone.
A cello has a bigger body and longer
strings than a violin. It also makes a
deeper sound.
Bongo drums make higher sounds than
bass drums.

13
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