A Wonderleaf question
How do instruments make different sounds?
a real page from the book
Musical instruments sound different because each one vibrates air in its own way. The vibration rate sets the note's height, while the material, shape, and way the sound begins change its tone, so a flute, drum, and guitar do not just vary in loudness.
Two instruments can play the same note and still sound unlike each other because their overtones differ. A hollow wooden body, a brass bell, a tight string, or a reed can strengthen some vibrations and soften others, giving each instrument its recognizable voice.
Wonder words
- vibration
- pitch
- overtones
- reed
Try it out
Tap a table, clap, and hum into a cup, then compare which sounds are high, low, sharp, or soft.
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