Why do the same notes on different instruments not sound the same?

Answer 1

Notes and frequenciesThe way your question is phrased indicates some confusion on your part.

First, you must understand that the fundamental frequency of a particular note is fixed, regardless what instrument produces the tone. Whether it's the human voice, a violin, piano, water-filled glass, or even a bent saw, the fundamental frequency determines the name of the note. For example, the note A4 is heard when a vibration with a fundamental frequency of 440 Hertz (Hz) is produced. The note C4, or "middle C," is produced by any instrument that produces vibrations of 261.63 Hz.

What makes a violin sound different from, say, a Flute or a carpenter's saw are the harmonics produced by the instrument. Harmonics are the subtle frequencies produced by the instrument that are multiples above the fundamental frequency. Different instruments create different harmonics that contribute to their unique timbre, which allows you to distinguish the instruments apart.

Second, it is important to understand that not all instruments use the same notation to represent the tones. (This may be at the heart of why you phrased the question as you did.) Some instruments, such as the piano and guitar, are "C" instrument, others are "Bb" instruments, while still others are "Eb" instruments. If three musicians using instruments with the different tunings all look at and play the same note on a staff, the tones created will sound different, because the musicians won't be playing tones of the same frequency. Composers have to adjust their notation to compensate for the different tunings of the instruments they employ.

Check out the link at the lower left to the frequency of notes page.

You should also note that the difference of a concert C on a Trumpet and a concert C is called timber. It still has the same frequency though.

Answer 2

they sound different because the different instruments produce different sounds this is because the size of the instrument makes louder quieter longer and shorter notes this is all because of the size and shape of the instrument.

Answer 3

It's all about harmonics, also called overtones or partials. Imagine a piano wire. (What follows is applicable to any tone-generating part of an acoustic instrument-- columns of air in woodwinds, brass or organs, strings of Guitars, etc.) It's easy to 'see' in your mind that the wire would vibrate in one big pattern, bowing a little to the left, and then to the right. The faster it goes, the higher the note. But this is NOT the only way the wire vibrates. If you could watch the wire in slow motion, you would notice that it is also vibrating by halves, at twice the frequency of the full-length wire. It's almost as if there is something 'stopping' the wire at the very middle. When the upper half bows to the left, the lower half bows to the right! Not only that, but the wire vibrates by thirds, fourths, fifths, etc., each time at different frequencies. It is the unique combination of all these 'partial' vibrations, the harmonics or overtones, that give each instrument its unique quality of sound.

Answer 4

maybe there in the same musical category like the wind instruments the instruments that you have to put your mouth on and blow.when you blow it

sounds the same but i may not be right so just Google it or improve my

answer

Answer 5

They vibrate at different frequencies. The same vibration will also sound different depending on the string or column of air that produces it.

Answer 6

instruments have pitch according to their amplitude the higher the amplitude is the higher the pitch pitch varies from one variety to another

Answer 7

The two notes may have the same fundamental pitch, but the harmonic structure of the sound is different, so there are different components of other frequencies within the sound you hear.