All Questions
Tagged with instruments sound
14 questions
5
votes
3
answers
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Are percussion instruments the only instrument type capable of making an unpitched (indefinite) sound? [Electronic instruments excluded]
I just want to confirm,
wind instruments and stringed instruments are completely incapable of creating an unpitched sound correct?
- 1,018
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How did musicians know what were the notes frequencies if they had no measuring tools? [duplicate]
Today we have devices that with the aid of a microphone can detect the frequency of a note. We can therefore calibrate all instruments and voices to a same pattern. But, how did people know how the ...
- 169
1
vote
4
answers
171
views
Keyboard sounds which begin before the audible beat: are they playable?
I often hear sounds and think "boy, would that be a cool sound for playing a tune on a keyboard." But, often the sounds begin substantially before where the understood "downbeat" would be.
An example ...
- 627
51
votes
10
answers
24k
views
Why can't drums produce melody?
A note is a vibration at a certain frequency. A drum produces a tone with a certain pitch much like a string percussed with a mallet.
Why is a drum unfit for playing a melody while a string inside a ...
- 792
12
votes
3
answers
4k
views
How did baroque music sound at the time?
Historical context
Let's for example consider Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 (click here to enjoy). It was composed at the very beginning of the 18th century in Germany. At that time:
...
- 223
0
votes
1
answer
206
views
What Instruments could have been used to make this 'seashell'-sound? [closed]
During this Youtube-Video, the red crab hits the seashells to make an interesting sound. I'd like to reproduce this. How could I do it?
1
vote
1
answer
62
views
installing strings on different instruments
My friend and I were disputing about if someone installs another instrument's strings on a different instrument such as: (guitar strings on harp or vice versa, Oud strings [an oriental instrument] on ...
- 232
0
votes
1
answer
1k
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What instrument/device is used to make the rising electronic bell-like sounds in the song "The Hall of Mirrors"? [closed]
In the song "The Hall of Mirrors" by Kraftwerk, there is a background to the song that is a rising sequence of electronic bell-like sounds, as if playing an arpeggio. This is similar to what I think ...
- 209
1
vote
4
answers
4k
views
Why are the alto saxophone and cello allegedly so similar to the human voice?
I once heard that Percy Grainger claimed the alto saxophone was the instrument most akin to the human voice; I've heard other claims that the cello is similarly close. Are there any scientific data to ...
- 85.1k
1
vote
1
answer
863
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How would this woodwind's shape affect its sound?
So, hopefully this question doesn't sound too vague, maybe I can completely explain it here.
I have been trying to invent a theoretical instrument that has three main parts to it. The middle piece is ...
- 506
4
votes
1
answer
204
views
It's there a diference between a MIDI instrument and an analogue one?
I'm new to music recordings, and I would love to get a simple midi keyboard for practicing and composing basic stuff.
I guess a MIDI keyboard is much better than using the computer keyboard, but I've ...
- 173
8
votes
1
answer
5k
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Examples of acoustic instruments producing sounds very close to pure square, triangle or sawtooth waves
I've been able to find plenty of info about acoustic instruments that create sounds close to sine-waves, and I understand that sounds approximating square, triangle and sawtooth waves are produced by ...
- 21.7k
13
votes
4
answers
13k
views
Why do F#6 and higher notes ring more than F6 and lower notes?
I learned Overworld Theme 2 from Super Mario Bros. 3 a few years ago, which features the nice bright high notes of A6, G6, and F6:
I noticed on my 80 year old upright piano that the A and G rang out ...
user28
2
votes
3
answers
478
views
How to produce the sound at the beginning of this song?
I'm interested in using the wind-like sound heard during the first few seconds of "Seven Devil" by Florence + The Machine, but I have no idea how it's produced. How can I reproduce this sound?
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