Let's talk about sound!

If we are studying music, it's inevitable not to talk about sound, as it is one of its fundamental pillars. In some way, sound has always been present in human life, becoming an important part of their routine. To know what sound is, as well as its qualities, continue reading this new article.

What is sound?

Sound is defined as the sensation produced in the ear as a result of the migratory movement of bodies at a given moment, which is transmitted through waves that travel through the air.

According to experts, it can be classified as long or short, soft or loud, high-pitched or low-pitched, and even pleasant or unpleasant, although this last classification tends to be subjective, as it depends on each person's concept of what they are listening to.

Qualities of sound

Pitch

A sound can be high-pitched or low-pitched according to the frequency of the sound waves, which is measured in hertz (Hz).

When the frequency is low, a slow vibration is recorded, resulting in a low-pitched sound, but if such vibration is fast, the frequency is high, which is why the sound is high-pitched.

For a sound to be perceived, it must be in the range of 20 to 20,000 Hz. Those below 20 Hz are called infrasound, and those above 20,000 Hz are considered ultrasound.

Intensity

It is the power with which each sound can be emitted; generally, they tend to be loud or soft at a given moment.

Intensity is measured in decibels, and for these sounds to be accepted by the ear, they must be between 0 dB to less than 140 dB respectively. Those with higher decibels (more than 140 dB) can be harmful to the ear.

Timbre

It is the quality that allows us to identify exactly the element that is sounding, that is, thanks to this quality, it will be possible to differentiate a violin from a guitar or piano, for example.

Duration

Each sound remains in the air for a different time, some may be longer or shorter than others. Whether these are prolonged or not depends on the instruments with which they are executed, as well as physical factors such as the place where it is emitted.

Among the instruments that can sustain the sound at all times are the bowed strings (violin, viola, cello, or double bass), on the contrary, those that make short sounds are the piano, percussion instruments, among others.

If these sounds are emitted in a closed place, they can stay in that space, making them last longer, while if they are emitted outdoors or in a place lacking acoustics, the sound will be lost more quickly.

As stated at the beginning, the study of sound is of vital importance for learning music, so it is advisable to read and research as much as possible on this topic.