A reed’s oscillatory persistence width is set by its material and mounting

Evidence

In the absence of a resonator, the reed would vibrate at its natural frequency. This is the frequency at which it would vibrate if it were plucked. If a plucked reed continues to vibrate for a long time, then it has a strong tendency to vibrate at a frequency within a narrow range, but if it vibrates for a short time, there is a wide range of frequencies over which it is able to vibrate. This effect is illustrated in Figure 4.21. This difference is exhibited depending on the material from which the reed is made and how it is supported. A reed that vibrates over a narrow frequency range is usually made from brass and supported rigidly and is known as a “hard” reed. A reed that vibrates over a wide range might be made from cane or plastic, held in a pliable support and known as a “soft” reed. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1200

Categorization

• DEFINE: Gives the precise technical difference between hard and soft reeds: spectral persistence relates to natural frequency spread, not loudness.
• XREF: Connects to the Fouriers/uncertainty theme: brief excitation spreads across frequencies, like a short click’s spectrum - resonance with earlier psychoacoustic material on transient sounds. — connects to: Reed vibration is self-sustaining spring oscillation against a shallot — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1199; Long-ringing reeds restrict vibration to a narrow frequency band — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1200; Reed material and support determine its harmonic content (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Reed material and support determine whether tone is focused or flexible. #corroborates (0.88)
• Reed material and support determine its harmonic content #expands (0.80)
• Long-ringing reeds restrict vibration to a narrow frequency band #qualifies (0.78) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1200
• Instrument stiffness versus tension determines how widely its modes are spaced #expands (0.75)
• Reed vibration is self-sustaining spring oscillation against a shallot #expands (0.72) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1199