A section on the voice
Section 11.9, now added, gives a general account of the mechanics of speaking and singing, with a brief look at birdsong at the end
Euphonics
The science of musical instruments ISSN 2977-5612
Latest posts
Major revisions to sections 9.6 and 9.7
Two of the sections relating to bowed strings have undergone a major revision in the light of a new approach to inferring a friction model from measurements. Section 9.6 and its side links describes that new approach in the context of a single-point bow model. Section 9.7 then explores the consequences for a finite-width bowing Continue reading "Major revisions to sections 9.6 and 9.7"
Extended account of double decays in stringed instruments
Section 7.3 has been upgraded, to give a more thorough account of the phenomenon of double-decay profiles, especially in stringed instrument that use multiple strings for each note. The section now has an extensive set of sound examples relating to the piano and to the lute.
Impacts, and violin tone adjustment
In the long interval since the last post, Euphonics, has continued to grow. Chapter 12 has been added, covering various musical applications of impacts and bouncing ranging from the piano, to the buzzing bridge of the sitar, to church bells. Also, two long sections have been added to Chapter 7. These address the two Continue reading "Impacts, and violin tone adjustment"
Chapter 11 added
After a rather long interval, I have finally completed a draft of a long chapter on wind instruments. This gives an overview of all the main families of wind instrument: reeds, brass, free reeds and air-jet instruments like the flute. Simple computer simulations are used to shed some light on the differences of behaviour between Continue reading "Chapter 11 added"
Now hosted by the Cambridge Philosophical Society
I am very grateful to the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Cambridge s oldest scientific society, who have recently taken over the hosting of Euphonics to give it a measure of permanence.
Chapter 10 added
The latest step: a complete draft of Chapter 10 is now online, looking at the rather broad question of measurements and experiments involving the physics of musical instruments. As well as acoustical measurements, there is material about microscopy, imaging methods like CT scans, and ways to visualise fluid flows and acoustic fields.
Chapter 9 added
This chapter examines what happens when a string is driven by bowing. The scientific story of the bowed string goes back into the 19th century, but it is still very much a live field of research and by the end of the chapter the frontier of current knowledge is reached.
Chapter 8 added
Chapter 8 gives an overview of the vibration of nonlinear systems. This is rather tricky material, but it will be essential for the next chapters which will look in detail at bowed strings, and then wind instruments.
Chapter 7 now complete
A first complete draft of Chapter 7 is now in place. This explores some of the physics that allows you to tell the difference between the many types of plucked and struck stringed instruments. By the end of the chapter, we begin to encounter important nonlinear effects. Those set the scene for Chapter 8, where Continue reading "Chapter 7 now complete"