Your entire musician’s life happens through an incredibly powerful tool that many of us don’t really know well: the ear!
A better understanding of the basic physical principles behind sound is a valuable weapon for anyone whose life consists of playing and listening.
The unit of measurement for pitch is the hertz (Hz).
One hertz corresponds to one air vibration per second, and this number of vibrations directly determines what our brain interprets as a note.
The higher the Hz value, the more treble the note is.
The human ear at birth perceives sounds between 20Hz and 20kHz, then gradually the extremes deteriorate with age, and sound damage (feedback, very loud concerts) can create “holes” at a specific frequency.
For comparison, a dog’s ear can hear sounds up to 45kHz, which is why they can hear ultrasound whistles that we cannot perceive at all.
Vamos a la playa
Frequency ranges are divided as follows:
- below 20Hz: infrasound,
- between 20 and 200 Hz: bass,
- between 200Hz and 2kHz: midrange,
- between 2kHz and 20kHz: treble,
- above 20kHz: ultrasound.
Of course, these are very broad guidelines and often a finer distinction is made between upper midrange and lower midrange, but these five ranges (of which three are audible to humans) are enough to picture the placement of sounds on the frequency scale.
To get the next octave up of a frequency, you multiply its value by 2.
For the octave down, you divide by 2.
My Grand Piano
Each instrument has a range of notes corresponding to frequencies, for example from 27.5Hz for the first key of a piano to 4186Hz for the 88th.
Between these, all musicians know the value of the A in the third octave: the famous A 440, located at 440Hz.
Of course, this value only accounts for the fundamental note, since many harmonics add to this note to form the characteristic sound of each instrument.
That’s why the same A in the third octave won’t sound the same on a piano and on a guitar, or even on two different pianos.
Adaptable
And this is where it becomes very practical: two instruments playing the same note will have a harmonic content richer in treble or in bass.
Take for example a Gibson Les Paul, it will have harmonics more loaded in bass than a Fender Telecaster when both play the same note.
Similarly, a Hofner “violin” bass will have a brighter sound than a Fender Precision.
If you’re looking for an instrument for your band, you need to choose it based on the others.
For example, if you have an 8-string guitar that really covers the bass range, your bassist will need to find their place in higher frequencies than usual, with an Ibanez, for example.
In a mix, frequencies are your best allies.
There are only two variables of a sound: frequency and sound pressure (measured in decibels).
Therefore, if you want to make an instrument stand out in a mix, it’s better to boost a less occupied frequency rather than turn up the volume of the track, risking ending up with a nameless sonic mush.
Your Turn!
This article obviously only presents a basic version of the physical aspect of our passion, but being aware of these concepts will surely help you throughout your musical life.
Feel free to post your additions or comments in the “comments” section, and above all, have fun!
