Where Music Meet Science Part 1: Pitch and Frequency
Summary
TLDRIn this educational video, Scott Laird from the North Carolina School of Science and Math introduces the concept of frequency in music. He explains how pitch relates to frequency, with high pitches corresponding to high frequencies and low pitches to low frequencies. Laird uses diagrams and examples to illustrate how sound waves are created and measured, emphasizing that frequency is measured in cycles per second, or Hertz. The video also covers how octave relationships are calculated through frequency doubling, providing a foundation for understanding music's mathematical connections.
Takeaways
- 🎵 The term 'frequency' is introduced as a key concept in understanding music and its relationship to pitch.
- 🔍 Different musical instruments are chosen for their range of pitches, which is a result of varying sound frequencies.
- 🌊 Sound is created by the movement of air molecules, which form wave-like patterns that can be visualized as they move out from the source.
- 📊 The pitch 'A' above middle C, also known as A440, is used as a standard tuning reference in orchestras worldwide.
- 👂 The frequency of A440 is 440 cycles per second, which is also referred to as 440 Hertz (Hz).
- 📉 The size of the sound wave corresponds to the pitch: smaller waves represent higher frequencies (higher pitch), and larger waves represent lower frequencies (lower pitch).
- 🔄 The frequency of a sound wave is measured in cycles per second, or Hertz, which is a measure of how many times a wave vibrates in one second.
- 🎶 Octave relationships in music are mathematically represented by a doubling of frequency; for example, one octave above A440 is A880.
- 🎻 Different instruments tune to different 'A' frequencies based on their pitch range, such as the cello at A220 and the tuba at A110.
- 📚 Understanding the mathematical relationships between pitches and frequencies can deepen one's appreciation and knowledge of music theory.
Q & A
What is the main topic of the video?
-The main topic of the video is the relationship between frequency and musical pitches, explaining how different frequencies correspond to different pitches in music.
What is the role of Scott Laird in the video?
-Scott Laird is a music instructor at the North Carolina School of Science and Math, and he introduces the concept of frequency and its relation to music.
What is the significance of the number 440 in the context of the video?
-The number 440 refers to the frequency of the tuning note A above middle C on the piano, which is commonly used by orchestras worldwide to tune their instruments.
How is the pitch of a sound related to its frequency?
-The pitch of a sound is directly related to its frequency; higher frequencies correspond to higher pitches, while lower frequencies correspond to lower pitches.
What causes sound waves and how are they related to music?
-Sound waves are caused by changes in air pressure, which occur when air molecules are forced together and then expand apart. These waves are the basis of music, as different instruments produce sound waves with varying frequencies, resulting in different pitches.
What is the term for one complete vibration of a wave?
-One complete vibration of a wave is known as a cycle.
What is the relationship between the frequency of an A 440 and an A 220?
-The frequency of an A 220 is one octave lower than an A 440. This means that the A 220 has half the frequency of the A 440, which is 220 cycles per second compared to 440 cycles per second.
How does the size of a sound wave relate to its frequency?
-The size of a sound wave is inversely related to its frequency. Smaller waves are created for higher frequencies (higher pitches), and larger waves are created for lower frequencies (lower pitches).
What is the term used to measure frequency, and what does it represent?
-The term used to measure frequency is Hertz (Hz), which represents the number of cycles per second.
What is the octave relationship between pitches in terms of frequency?
-The octave relationship between pitches is represented by a doubling relationship in frequency. For example, if one pitch is at 440 Hz, the next octave higher would be at 880 Hz.
What does the video suggest about the importance of understanding frequency in music?
-Understanding frequency in music is important because it allows musicians and listeners to appreciate the mathematical relationships between pitches and to better understand the unique sound characteristics of different instruments.
Outlines
🎵 Introduction to Frequency and Music
In this introductory segment, Scott Laird, a music instructor, sets the stage for the lesson on frequency in music. He explains that frequency is the scientific term for pitch, which is crucial for understanding music. The lesson aims to provide a working understanding of frequency, teach the parts of a sound wave, and enable students to calculate octave relationships using frequency. Scott uses the analogy of a pebble dropped in water to explain how sound waves are created, comparing the ripples in water to the wave-like motion of air molecules when sound is produced. He introduces the concept that the size and speed of the waves are related to frequency, with smaller and faster waves corresponding to higher pitches and larger, slower waves to lower pitches. The segment concludes with a focus on the pitch A, which is often used to tune musical instruments and is referred to as A440, indicating 440 cycles per second.
🔍 Exploring Cycles, Hertz, and Octaves
This paragraph delves deeper into the concept of cycles per second, also known as Hertz (Hz), which defines the frequency of a sound wave. Scott explains that the pitch A440 has 440 complete vibrations or cycles in one second, which is its frequency. The lesson progresses to demonstrate how different instruments tune to various frequencies, such as the cello tuning to A220, which is one octave lower than A440. The segment also introduces the concept of octaves, explaining that moving up one octave in pitch results in the frequency doubling. Scott challenges the audience to identify the frequency of the next octave above the violin's A440, which would be 880 Hz. The summary concludes with a brief mention of other interesting frequencies, such as the lowest open string on a bass or guitar, and a review of the key points learned about frequency and its relationship to music.
🌟 Sound Creation and Octave Relationships
In the final paragraph, Scott summarizes the key takeaways from the lesson. He emphasizes that sound is created by changes in air pressure that occur in wave-like motions. He reiterates that faster waves represent high pitches, while slower waves represent low pitches. The concept of a cycle, or one complete vibration of a wave, is highlighted as the basis for measuring frequency in Hertz. The lesson concludes with the important revelation that octave relationships in music are mathematically represented by a doubling of frequency. Scott expresses his hope that the insights into frequency have enriched the understanding of music and looks forward to further exploration in future lessons. The segment ends with a farewell from the North Carolina School of Science and Math.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Frequency
💡Pitch
💡Sound Wave
💡Hertz
💡Octave
💡Cycle
💡Air Pressure
💡Wave-like Motion
💡Tuning
💡Orchestra
💡Doubling Relationship
Highlights
Introduction to the term frequency and its relation to music
Understanding frequency as a numerical representation of pitch
The role of pitch in music composition and instrument selection
Explanation of sound creation through air molecule vibrations
Illustration of sound wave motion similar to water ripples
The significance of the tuning note A 440 in orchestras
Listening to orchestra tuning to unlock the secret of 440 cycles per second
Microscopic view of a sound wave to understand cycles
Definition of a cycle as one complete vibration of a wave
Frequency measured in cycles per second or Hertz
The relationship between frequency and octaves in music
Calculating octave relationships using frequency
Comparing frequencies of different instruments tuning to A
Understanding the pattern of frequency doubling per octave
Practical examples of frequency in various musical instruments
Review of the mathematical relationships between pitches and frequencies
Anticipation of the next lesson on complex waves and instrument sounds
Closing remarks and invitation to future lessons
Transcripts
hello and welcome to where music meets
science my name is Scott Laird and I'm a
music instructor at the North Carolina
School of Science and math today we will
be introducing the term frequency and
begin to relate the numerical
information of frequency to the musical
knowledge that you already have
following today's lesson you will have a
working understanding of the term
frequency you will know the various
parts of a sound wave and you will be
able to calculate octave relationships
using your knowledge of frequency so
without any further delay let's begin
any time you listen to music and sounds
I'm sure that you are aware that there
are high pitched sounds and low pitched
sounds and many sounds in-between great
composers write music that has many
pitches ranging from high to low and
that keeps the music interesting many
musicians choose their instrument based
on the musical range of that instrument
that is how high or low that instrument
will play one person may like the sound
of a tuba
or string bass while another may be
drawn to the higher sounds of a flute or
a viola
all of these various pitches are a
result of sounds that are different
frequencies so another way to think of
pitch is to think of frequency if an
instrument has a high pitch then it has
a high frequency if an instrument has a
low pitch then it has a low frequency
but the question remains frequency of
what and how can it be measured well
here is where the science comes in sound
occurs when air molecules are forced
together after being forced together
they then expand farther apart creating
a wave-like motion of air look at the
cone of a stereo speaker as it is
playing music with a loud beat notice
how the speaker pushes out with each
beat this compresses air molecules and
begins the wave-like motion here is
another illustration of how it works
air reacts in a manner that is very
similar to water when a pebble is
dropped into it creating a series of
waves that move out in a circular motion
think of the water as the air and the
pebble as the sound the sound waves move
out from the sound source in all
directions getting quieter as it gets
further and further away a small pebble
can represent a high frequency or high
pitch it creates small waves that are
very close together a large rock can
represent low frequencies or low pitches
it creates much larger waves that
require much more space to develop so we
can tell that the speed and the size of
a wave relate to that waves frequency
also we have learned that frequency is
another term for pitch but let's dig a
little deeper let's look at the diagram
of a sound wave this is a diagram of the
pitch a it is the a above middle C on
the piano
it is also the pitch that in Orchestra
traditionally uses to tune the
instruments orchestras around the world
tune their instruments to the pitch a
this is also often referred to as a 440
440 is the number that we're interested
in today let's listen to the orchestra
as it tunes
to unlock the secret of the number 440
let's go back to a diagram of a
Soundwave this diagram represents the
pitch created by a violin playing the
tuning note a 440 in order to unlock the
secrets of the diagram we must zoom in
on the wave just as if we were looking
at it under a microscope now we are
looking at a very small portion of that
sound wave we said earlier that sounds
are created when molecules of air are
forced together the rise in the wave
represents the time that the molecules
are forced together the fall of the wave
represents the molecules pushing apart
so the y axis is air pressure you will
notice that it happens over and over
this takes time so the x axis represents
time one complete vibration of a wave is
known as a cycle and this is how we
begin to relate these pitches to numbers
can you guess how many complete
vibrations or cycles and a 440 goes
through in one second
the answer is in the name of the pitch
if you guessed 440 cycles per second you
were absolutely correct
this single vibration actually occurs
440 times in one second this is the
waves frequency the number of cycles or
waves that occur in one second let's
look at how fast that really is
anytime we hear that pitch the a above
middle C on the piano it is the
frequency 440 cycles per second let's
listen to a few different instruments
playing that same pitch or frequency
who
another name for cycles per second is
Hertz so we might say that you have just
heard several instruments playing a
pitch that is 440 Hertz or Hz so to more
completely define frequency it is cycles
per second or Hertz now let's take a
look at some instruments that tune two
pitches that are closely related to a
440 first let's listen to a cello tuning
is the pitch that the cello is playing
higher or lower than a 440
if you answered lower you were correct
in fact it is one octave lower than the
violin a let's take a look at the
diagram of the pitch that the cello
played after seeing both pitches as
diagrammed can anyone guess the
frequency of the cello
if you guessed 220 you are correct when
the cellist tunes their instrument they
hear an a 440 and play an a 220 this is
because the cello is a lower pitched
instrument the cellos tuning note is a
220 or 220
here are some other instruments that
tune to a 220
now let's listen to an instrument that
Tunes to yet another a
is this a higher or lower than the cello
eh
if you said lower you are correct
if the cello a is 220 Hertz then what is
the tuba a if you answered 110 you are
correct
let's look at the comparison of the
graphs of each of these pitches let's
listen to one more instrument playing
yet another a
using the formula that we have
established can you name the frequency
of the basis tuning note the basis
tuning note is 55 Hertz or 55 cycles per
second let's look at each of these
numbers and try to find a pattern
notice that as we move up one octave in
pitch the frequency doubles can you
determine the frequency of the next
octave above the violin if you said 880
then you are correct
might there be other frequencies that
you could be interested in here are a
few that you may find interesting this
is the lowest open string on an upright
or electric bass
this is the lowest open string on a
guitar
let's review all that we have learned
today first the sound is created by
changes in air pressure second these
changes occur in a wave-like motion
third faster waves or frequencies
represent high pitches slower waves or
frequencies represent low pitches fourth
one complete vibration of a wave is a
cycle and frequency or pitch is measured
in cycles per second or Hertz finally
octave relationships between pitches are
represented by a doubling relationship
these mathematical relationships between
pitches of frequencies can open a whole
new world of understanding of music as
you begin to use them more and more in
the next lesson we will discuss the
notion of complex waves and the unique
sound of each instrument in the
orchestra I hope that you have enjoyed
learning about frequency today and how
it relates to our lives I look forward
to working with you again in the future
for now so long from the North Carolina
school of science and math
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