Sound, Pitch, and Tuning
What Is Sound in Music
Sound is the starting point of music. Every note, rhythm, and harmony begins as a physical vibration that is shaped, organized, and perceived by the...
Pitch and Frequency
Pitch is one of the most fundamental elements of music. It allows us to distinguish between high and low sounds and forms the basis of...
Musical Notes and Note Names
Musical note names are labels assigned to pitches so they can be identified, taught, and communicated. While pitch and frequency describe how sound behaves and...
Octaves and Registers
Octaves and registers describe how musical pitches repeat and extend across different pitch ranges. While note names identify pitch categories, octaves and registers explain how...
The Harmonic Series
The harmonic series describes the natural pattern of frequencies that occur when a musical sound is produced. It explains why certain pitches sound stable together...
Overtones and Timbre
Overtones are the higher frequencies that accompany a musical note, and timbre is the quality of sound shaped by those overtones. While pitch determines which...
Tuning Systems in Western Music
Tuning systems define how musical pitches are adjusted and spaced relative to one another. While note names identify pitch categories and the harmonic series explains...
A=440 Tuning Standard
A=440 refers to the tuning standard in which the musical note A above middle C is set to a frequency of 440 hertz. This reference...
Equal Temperament Explained
Equal temperament is the tuning system most commonly used in Western music today. It defines how pitches are spaced within an octave so that music...
Just Intonation
Just intonation is a tuning system that tunes musical intervals using simple whole-number frequency ratios. In Western music, it represents an approach that prioritizes acoustic...
