HUMA 2104 - Intro to

Music Theory
Week One Lecture

Tuesday, September 3, 13

What is Sound?

Vibrations transmitted through an elastic

medium that are able to be detected by
the human ear.

These vibrations are actually rapid

fluctuations in the average atmospheric
pressure where the sound is heard.

Rarefactions - less than standing air

pressure

Compressions - greater than standing air

pressure!

Radiates in a sphere from the source Surface area of sphere = 4(pi)r^2,

When these fluctuations in air pressure

reach us, they cause sympathetic
vibrations on our eardrums.

Tuesday, September 3, 13

The four basic

properties of sound

Frequency
Amplitude
Duration
Location

Tuesday, September 3, 13

Frequency - periodic
waveforms
What we perceive as pitch is the result of a periodic
waveform.
A waveform is a pattern of pressure variations produced
by a sound expressed as cycles per second (cps)
Non-periodic waveforms are perceived as noise.
In notation, frequency (pitch) is represented by vertical
position on the staff.
The range of human hearing is ideally 20 - 20,000 cps
The range of the piano is 27.5 - 4186.1 cps

Tuesday, September 3, 13

Frequency Vs. Pitch

Throughout history, music of the west has been

based upon simple frequency ratios.
The most basic ratio (1/2) forms the octave, which is
the basis for our scale systems.
Lets take a look at a periodic waveform in action.

Tuesday, September 3, 13

Amplitude

The amplitude of a waveform is the amount of

change, positive or negative, in atmospheric
pressure caused by the compression/rarefaction
cycle of a sound wave.

In rough terms, we perceive this degree of

change as loudness or intensity.

Tuesday, September 3, 13

Duration

This one is pretty self-explanatory

In notation, duration is indicated by
rhythmic values.

Tuesday, September 3, 13

Location
Well... There isnt really a standard way
to notate this one.

Flute

Tuesday, September 3, 13

Location
Well... There isnt really a standard way
to notate this one.
Climb inside the piano

Flute

Tuesday, September 3, 13

Timbre
Timbre is often considered to be a fifth
basic property of sound in musical
contexts.
However, it is actually just a
combination of frequency and amplitude
that we perceive as a sources sound
quality.
Lets take a closer look on the sonogram.
Tuesday, September 3, 13