Physics 288/489: THE PHYSICS OF MUSIC   Fall, 2004

Lecture 6 (9/23)

Complex waveforms and spectral analysis.  How the "Sound Forge" works by breaking up a waveform into its sinusoidal frequency components.  Harmonics, overtones, partials, and the makeup of timbre.  Lots of examples of waveforms for different instruments.

Reading: Hall 8.2-8.3

Demonstrations:

    3C50.u1     Microphone & Sound Forge (spectrum analyzer)

    3D32.10    Organ Pipes

    3D20.10    Electric Guitar/ sounding board

    3D46.15    Tuning Forks

Tones from various instruments with and without partials

(see http://theory.esm.rochester.edu/th412/listening/listening.html)

Music Played:

Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 7, 5th movement

Frederic Chopin  Etudes Nos. 1, 3, 5