Unambiguous pitch perception requires a periodically repeating acoustic waveform

Evidence

When we listen to a note played on a musical instrument and we perceive it as having a clear unambiguous musical pitch, this is because that instrument produces an acoustic pressure wave which repeats regularly. For example, consider the acoustic pressure waveforms recorded by means of a microphone and shown in Figure 3.1 for A4 played on four orchestral instruments: violin, trumpet, flute and oboe. Notice that in each case, the waveshape repeats reg­ ularly, or the waveform is “periodic” (see Chapter 1). Each section that repeats is known as a “cycle” and the time for which each cycle lasts is known as the “fundamental period” or “period” of the waveform. The number of cycles which occur in one second gives the fundamental frequency of the note in hertz (or Hz). The fundamental frequency is often notated as “f0”, pronounced “F zero” or “F nought”, a practice which will be used throughout the rest of this book. — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 774

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines the core vocabulary linking perceived pitch to measurable period, cycle, and fundamental frequency f0.
• XREF: connects to: Clear pitch perception depends on periodic repetition of the pressure wave — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 774; Clear musical pitch arises from regularly repeating acoustic waveforms; Pitch perception requires a tone lasting at least two signal periods — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 1088 (+8 more)

Broader Connections

• Clear pitch perception depends on periodic repetition of the pressure wave #corroborates (0.95) — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 774
• Periodicity in the acoustic waveform determines whether a sound is perceived as pitched. #corroborates (0.95) — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 828
• Clear musical pitch arises from regularly repeating acoustic waveforms #corroborates (0.93)
• Pitch of periodic sounds is determinable from the waveform’s cycle period #corroborates (0.78) — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 909
• Pitch perception requires a tone lasting at least two signal periods #qualifies (0.75) — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 1088
• Continuous-spectrum noises can carry pitch perceived from spectral peaks #qualifies (0.75) — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 900
• Inharmonic tone complexes can yield multiple or virtual perceived pitches #complicates (0.75)
• Time-delayed repetition of sound produces a matching repetition pitch #exemplifies (0.72)
• A single delayed sound repetition creates a perceived pitch even from white noise #complicates (0.72) — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 2146