Lacking high harmonics makes instruments sound dark or dull

Evidence

Instruments that do not exhibit energy in harmonics above the fifth or seventh during their steady-state phases include the principal 8′ (see Figures 4.17 and 5.1), the gedackt 8′ (see Figures 4.17 and 5.2), the clarinet, oboe and flute (see Figures 4.24 and 5.3) and the trombone, French horn and tuba (see Figures 4.29 and 5.4). In comparison with their counterpart organ stops or other instruments of their category (woodwind or brass), their timbres might be described as being “less bright” or “dark,” “less brilliant” or “dull” or “less shrill” or “bland.” — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1476

Categorization

• XREF: The mirror image of the bright-brilliant grouping — together the two give a working rule linking high-harmonic content to timbre words. — connects to: Strong energy above the fifth harmonic makes instruments sound bright — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1475; Dark or dull timbres lack energy in harmonics above the seventh; Sounds missing many harmonics still evoke a weak pitch sensation — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 1295 (+14 more)

Broader Connections

• Dark or dull timbres lack energy in harmonics above the seventh #corroborates (0.95)
• Simple sine-like tones sound soft but lack power and feel dull at low pitches #corroborates (0.95)
• Unresolved harmonics smear together as frequency rises #expands (0.90)
• Sounds missing many harmonics still evoke a weak pitch sensation #complicates (0.85) — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 1295
• High harmonics must be dropped in the treble because they become inaudible #qualifies (0.85) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1566
• Free reeds produce fewer high harmonics than beating reeds #complicates (0.85)
• A single note can sound rough only below roughly 100 Hz fundamental #complicates (0.85) — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 1292
• Brass instruments differ sharply in how many harmonics their tones carry #qualifies (0.85)
• Instrument tuning relies on high harmonics because pitch changes there are easier to hear #complicates (0.85) — Professor Dr.-Ing. Hugo Fastl, Professor Dr.-Ing. Eberhard, Psychoacoustics- Facts and Models, 1056
• Notes lacking reinforced upper harmonics play wobbly and degraded #complicates (0.80)
• Pure tones sound soft and pleasant but lack power #qualifies (0.80) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1493
• Aligned harmonic phases make sounds sharper and buzzy #contradicts (0.80)
• The clarinet lacks even harmonics at low tones but approaches odd-even parity higher up #complicates (0.75) — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 1259
• Removing lower harmonics barely changes the perceived pitch of a complex tone. #qualifies (0.75) — Professor Dr.-Ing. Hugo Fastl, Professor Dr.-Ing. Eberhard, Psychoacoustics- Facts and Models, 708
• Higher pitched notes spread harmonics so wide that formant peaks vanish #complicates (0.75)