Timbre

Definition

Timbre is the quality of sound that distinguishes different types of sound production, such as voices or musical instruments, even when they have the same pitch and loudness. It is determined by the harmonic content of a sound and its dynamic characteristics.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Timbre allows listeners to differentiate between different sounds that have the same pitch and loudness.
2. The harmonic content and overtones present in a sound wave contribute significantly to its timbre.
3. Dynamic characteristics like attack, decay, sustain, and release also play a role in defining timbre.
4. Timbre can be analyzed using Fourier Transform to decompose a signal into its constituent frequencies.
5. In physics, timbre is closely related to the physical properties of the sound source, such as material composition and shape.

Review Questions

• What factors contribute to the timbre of a sound?
• How does Fourier Transform help in analyzing timbre?
• Why can two instruments playing the same note at the same volume still sound different?

Related terms

Harmonic Content: The presence and relative intensities of harmonics (overtones) in a sound wave that contribute to its overall timbre.

Fourier Transform: A mathematical transform that decomposes a function (such as a sound wave) into its constituent frequencies.

Overtones:

Frequencies higher than the fundamental frequency that occur at integer multiples; they influence the timbre of a sound.