Instrument sound depends on whether restoring force comes from material stiffness or from stretching
Evidence
Nonstretched instruments, such as plates (cymbals), bars (glockenspiel) or three-dimensional structures (bells) get their physical restoring force from their stiffness. In contrast, stretched instruments such as strings (violin) or membranes (drums) get their restoring force from the stretching itself. Stiffness-based instruments tend to have their modes more widely spaced in frequency than do tension-based instruments. The cymbal is a circular plate with a raised central dome, as is a gong, and this tends to alter the frequencies of the higher modes to be quasi-combinations of plate modes. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1310
Categorization
- DEFINE: Distinguishes stiffness-based from tension-based instruments — a core classification for understanding why different instrument families sound as they do.
- XREF: connects to: Instrument stiffness versus tension determines how widely its modes are spaced; Objects vibrate sinusoidally when restoring force is proportional to displacement — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 285; Higher string modes vibrate faster because greater curvature raises restoring force — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 783 (+1 more)
Broader Connections
- Instrument stiffness versus tension determines how widely its modes are spaced
#expands(0.86) - Higher string modes vibrate faster because greater curvature raises restoring force
#exemplifies(0.85) — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 783 - String stiffness makes higher frequencies travel faster, changing timbre
#corroborates(0.83) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 103 - Objects vibrate sinusoidally when restoring force is proportional to displacement
#expands(0.74) — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 285