A bell’s perceived pitch is usually absent from its actual partials

Evidence

In figure 3.11, the smaller fork is vibrating faster than the larger fork by factor of exactly 3/2. Using f1 = 200 and f2 = 300, the displacement of the smaller tines reads … Notice that it is perfectly periodic. Its frequency is 100 Hz, lower than either the 200 Hz or the 300 Hz component. The two waves return to their starting phase at the same time after three periods of the 300 Hz wave and two periods of the 200 Hz wave; this time is 0.01 second, corresponding to a frequency of 100 Hz. Here is the first hint of a crucial issue, one that extends to theories of music and hearing. If any single pitch can be associated with this combination, it is certainly 100 Hz, but there is no 100 Hz frequency present at all. One can also easily “hear out,” as it is called, the 200 and 300 Hz “atomic” components as individual sinusoidal pure tones embedded in the “molecular” whole. There is much more evidence to present regarding pitch perception, and we leave this subject for a full discussion in chapter 23. — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 323 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Pitch can be perceived even when no partial exists at that frequency — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 2031; A perceived pitch can exist with no partial at its own frequency.; A combined waveform can produce a perceived pitch absent from its actual frequency components — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 323 (+11 more)

Broader Connections

• A combined waveform can produce a perceived pitch absent from its actual frequency components #expands (1.00) — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 323
• Listeners reconstruct a perceived pitch that is not physically present #expands (0.95)
• Phantom tones are heard despite being absent from the presented sound #corroborates (0.95)
• A kettledrum’s tone is perceived with a missing fundamental #exemplifies (0.90) — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 1328
• Listeners perceive the fundamental frequency even when its lowest partials are absent #corroborates (0.90) — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 1115
• Adding higher partials can drop the perceived pitch of a tone #expands (0.85) — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 2067
• The ear generates audible combination tones not present in the stimulus #corroborates (0.85) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1571
• Pitch can exist with no tone heard at that frequency, unlike phantom tones #qualifies (0.80)
• The ear generates phantom low tones absent from the actual signal #corroborates (0.80)
• Two simultaneous tones generate audible lower tones absent from the stimulus #corroborates (0.80) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1571
• Gamelan avoids perfect octaves because bell partials are inharmonic #exemplifies (0.75)