A finger hole’s acoustic effect depends on its size relative to pipe diameter

Evidence

A hole in a pipe will act in an acoustically similar manner to an open pipe end (pressure node, velocity anti­ node). The extent to which it does this is deter­ mined by the diameter of the hole with respect to the pipe diameter. When this is large with respect to the pipe diameter, as in the flute, the uncov­ ered hole acts acoustically as if the pipe had an open end at that position. Smaller finger holes result acoustically in the effective open end being further down the pipe (away from the flue end). This is an important fac­ tor in the practical design of bass instruments with long resonators since it can enable the finger holes to be placed within the physical reach of a player’s hands. It does, however, have an important consequence on the frequency relationship between the modes, and this is explored in detail below in connection with woodwind reed instruments. — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 1215

Categorization

• XREF: The relationship between small holes pushing the effective open end further down feeds the tuning consequences later in this chapter on reed instruments. — connects to: Finger-hole diameters determine where a pipe’s effective opening lies — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1187

Broader Connections

• Finger-hole diameters determine where a pipe’s effective opening lies #expands (0.90) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1187