Musical Acoustics Demonstrations
3 Trumpet Tones - Effect of Playing
Level on Spectrum
Background
The spectrum of the sound produced by an instrument can change quite a
bit, depending especially on the playing level. The sound of a
trumpet playing softly is much different than the sound of a trumpet
played loudly, but then made quiet again by turning down the
volume. People use terms such as brassy, bright, or harsh to describe some of the
sounds of a brass instrument.
Instructions
There are three tones, all the same note, played on a
trumpet. One was originally played softly (pp), one was played at a medium
level (mf), and one was played
loudly (ff), and then their
amplitudes were adjusted so that they all have the same loudness.
Which tone was originally played softly, and which was played
loudly? How can you tell? What is the difference in the
spectrum of the sound (look especially at the higher harmonics).
Supported by Baldwin-Wallace College and the Acoustical Society of
America